Recognition Notice Certificate

The Recognition Notice Certificate is a special certificate that is issued by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) to gaming operators and/or land-based casinos. This certificate is issued where authorization is given by a separate Member State of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area, or a state that is deemed by the MGA to offer safeguards and protections equivalent or greater than those offered by Maltese law.

The Recognition Notice Certificate is recognised to many gaming operators in the EU and across the globe as having the same level of effect as an authorisation that is issued by the MGA for the express purposes of gaming service or gaming supply provisions in or out of the jurisdiction of Malta. 

Annual Maintenance

Recognition Notice Certificates have a validity period of ONE (1) year, and requires annual maintenance reviews submitted to the MGA prior to the annual anniversary of the certificate.

This can be done by Recognition Notice Certificate holders by submitting a ‘Recognition Notice Annual Maintenance’ application from the ‘Online Services’ dropdown in the licensee portal.

Application of the ‘Recognition Notice Annual Maintenance’ must include the following information requested by the MGA below as a soft copy within the ‘Other Documents’ enclosures section:

  • Proof of payment of the annual maintenance fee of FIVE THOUSAND EUROS (€5,000.00). The proof of payment must include the payment reference number, which is included in the confirmation stage of the payment.
  • A signed declaration from ONE (1) company director(s) confirming the current roster of directors, including:
    • Full name and surname
    • E-mail address
    • Phone number
  • The current and updated list of domains where gaming services are being offered to players (For B2C license holders only).

Confirmation of no changes are made to the original gaming license that is issued by a foreign jurisdiction will be confirmed via

  • The payment of the Annual License fee and inclusion of the payment reference number.
  • Acceptance of the application’s terms and conditions.
  • Submission of the application. 

Any changes that are affected to the relevant application form must be resubmitted. During the resubmission process, all information is set to read-only, and Recognition Notice holders are requested to ensure that all information that is held on record is accurate and representative of the certificate holder’s operations. 

Addition of New Foreign License(s)

Applications for the addition of new license(s) issued by other foreign jurisdiction require Recognition Notice Certificate holders to submit a ‘Changes to Recognition Notice Certificate’ application via the ‘Online Services’ dropdown in the MGA licensee portal. The certificate holder will be requested to read the relevant Recognition Notice Certificate to proceed with the application.

Following information that is required for the ‘Changes to Recognition Notice Certificate’ application include: 

  • Any additional licenses that is held by the certificate holder to be added by selecting ‘Add Recognition Notice License’.
  • A certified, true copy of the original gaming license and English translation (if applicable).
  • A certified legal opinion provided by a warranted professional covering the following requirements:
    • Company details, such as:
      • Company registration number
      • The country under which laws the company was incorporated
      • Registered address
      • License number
      • License issuance and expiry date
    • Confirmation that the issuing foreign competent authority has conducted compliance checks, and whether such compliance checks are applicable to the entirety of the company’s operations such as game verticals/types and confirmation of applicability of the compliance checks to the respective operations should be provided.
    • Assessment that the gaming service(s) and/or critical gaming supplies which may be offered by virtue of the license and in terms of the relevant jurisdiction’s framework, are comparable to the respective licensable services that are established under the laws of Malta, and in accordance with Article 22 of the Gaming Authorisations Regulations.
    • A complete and accurate description of gaming services and/or critical gaming supplies offered, and are comparable to the descriptions of the relevant game types under the laws fo Malta.
    • Confirmation that the licensed gaming operator is wholly subjected to the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework of the license-issuing jurisdiction or otherwise. The licensee is bound by their duty to fulfil any and all AML/CFT requirements, and that they are compliant with the applicable AML/CFT legislations of the license-issuing jurisdiction. The confirmation applies to any Recognition Notice applicants that offer, or intend to, gaming services.

Changes to the Foreign License

If any changes are made to the license(s) issued by a foreign jurisdiction such as, but not limited to, the status of the license(s), renewal of certificates, gaming verticals/types that are offered, and legal opinion of the MGA, Recognition Notice holders are required to submit a ‘Changes to Recognition Notice Certificate’ application via the ‘Online Services’ dropdown in the licensee portal. Recognition Notice Certificate holders are asked to look up the relevant certificate to proceed with the application. 

Information that is required for the application process include:

  • Updated information for the foreign license. This can be done by selecting ‘Edit Recognition Notice License’.
  • A certified, true copy of the original gaming license and English translation (if applicable).
  • Any additional and/or different services that are offered by virtue of the foreign license that differes from the previously accepted legal opinion, an updated certified legal opinion must be provided by a warranted professional that covers the following requirements:
    • Company details, such as:
      • Company registration number
      • The country under which laws the company was incorporated
      • Registered address
      • License number
      • License issuance and expiry date
    • Confirmation that the issuing foreign competent authority has conducted compliance checks, and whether such compliance checks are applicable to the entirety of the company’s operations such as game verticals/types and confirmation of applicability of the compliance checks to the respective operations should be provided.
    • Assessment that the gaming service(s) and/or critical gaming supplies which may be offered by virtue of the license and in terms of the relevant jurisdiction’s framework, are comparable to the respective licensable services that are established under the laws of Malta, and in accordance with Article 22 of the Gaming Authorisations Regulations.
    • A complete and accurate description of gaming services and/or critical gaming supplies offered, and are comparable to the descriptions of the relevant game types under the laws fo Malta.
    • Confirmation that the licensed gaming operator is wholly subjected to the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework of the license-issuing jurisdiction or otherwise. The licensee is bound by their duty to fulfil any and all AML/CFT requirements, and that they are compliant with the applicable AML/CFT legislations of the license-issuing jurisdiction. The confirmation applies to any Recognition Notice applicants that offer, or intend to, gaming services.

Changes to Company Details

In the event where any changes much be made to company details, Recognition Notice Certificate holders must make a ‘Changes to Recognition Notice Certificate’ application submission to the MGA via the ‘Online Services’ dropdown in the licensee protal. Recognition Notice  Certificate holders are asked to look up the relevant certificate to proceed with the application.

Information that is required for the application process include:

  • Current and most updated company details via the ‘Edit Entity Declaration Form’ selection, whereby the Recognition Notice Certificate holder is able to amend the relevant fields within the ‘Entity Declaration Form’.
  • A signed Entity Declaration form to be submitted to the MGA in a physical hard copy document, available in the Enclosures section of the application.

Changes to Directors

For any changes to directors, Recognition Notice Certificate holders must submit a ‘Changes to Recognition Notice Certificate’ application to the MGA via ‘Online Services’ dropdown in the licensee protal. Recognition Notice Certificate holders are asked to look up the relevant certificate to proceed with the application.

The application must include a soft-copy of the declaration signed by any director, including the list of directors and relevant contact details which specifies the full name, contact number, and e-mail address. 

Changes to Domains

For any changes relating to the list of URLs/Domains where gaming services are offered to players either in Malta or globally, Recognition Notice Certificate holders must submit a ‘Changes to Recognition Notice Certificate’ application to the MGA via ‘Online Services’ dropdown in the licensee protal. Recognition Notice Certificate holders are asked to look up the relevant certificate to proceed with the application and select ‘Edit Recignition Notice License’ that pertains to the relevant foreign license. 

Afterwards, the Recognition Notice Certificate holder will proceed to the ‘Domains’ section of the Recognition Notice License form and edit existing domains or add any new domains accordingly.

How to Apply

The application for a Recognition Notice Certificate can be accessed via the MGA’s licensee portal and navigating to the ‘Recognition Notice Application’.

The application must be submitted with the following documents: 

  • Proof of payment of the application fee of FIVE THOUSAND EUROS (€5,000.00).
  • A certified, true copy of the original gaming license and English translation (if applicable).
  • A signed Entity Declaration form to be submitted to the MGA in a physical hard copy document, available in the Enclosures section of the application.
  • A signed declaration from ONE (1) company director(s) confirming the current roster of directors, including:
    • Full name and surname
    • E-mail address
    • Phone number
  • The current and latest list of URLs/Domains where gaming services are offered to players (only for B2C license types).
  • A letter of good standing issued by the MGA.
  • A certified legal opinion provided by a warranted professional covering the following requirements:
    • Company details, such as:
      • Company registration number
      • The country under which laws the company was incorporated
      • Registered address
      • License number
      • License issuance and expiry date
    • Confirmation that the issuing foreign competent authority has conducted compliance checks, and whether such compliance checks are applicable to the entirety of the company’s operations such as game verticals/types and confirmation of applicability of the compliance checks to the respective operations should be provided.
    • Assessment that the gaming service(s) and/or critical gaming supplies which may be offered by virtue of the license and in terms of the relevant jurisdiction’s framework, are comparable to the respective licensable services that are established under the laws of Malta, and in accordance with Article 22 of the Gaming Authorisations Regulations.
    • A complete and accurate description of gaming services and/or critical gaming supplies offered, and are comparable to the descriptions of the relevant game types under the laws fo Malta.
    • Confirmation that the licensed gaming operator is wholly subjected to the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework of the license-issuing jurisdiction or otherwise. The licensee is bound by their duty to fulfil any and all AML/CFT requirements, and that they are compliant with the applicable AML/CFT legislations of the license-issuing jurisdiction. The confirmation applies to any Recognition Notice applicants that offer, or intend to, gaming services.

Required Documents

Enclosures - Entity Declaration Form
Declaration on the Use of Electronic Signatures

Fees & Taxation

An annual advance payment of FIVE THOUSAND EUROS (€5,000.00) must be made for the Annual Recognition Notice Fee.