MGA Issue The De Minimis Games Directive

The Malta Gaming Authority (the 'MGA') has issued a new directive, The De Minimis Games Directive, Directive 3 of 2019 (the "Directive") which aims to exempt small lotteries and/or raffles from the regulatory regime, which would otherwise be applicable.

This Directive sets out the precise meaning of a de minimis game, as described in the Gaming Authorisations Regulations (Subsidiary Legislation 583.05 of the Laws of Malta) (the 'Regulations"). The significance of the classification as a de minimis game is that such game falls within the exemptions contemplated by the Regulations, and therefore, does not require a licence. The Directive has come into force on the 1^st February 2019, and defines a de minimisgame as a game which satisfies the following criteria cumulatively: