- The Malta Gaming Authority has suspended the license of Bet Service Group and its brands
- No new deposits can be made and registration is closed
- Customers with outstanding payments need to contact MGA for information how to claim their money
- License suspension is reserved only for the most severe cases of violation
Malta Gaming Authority has taken aim at Bet Service Group temporarily suspending its license over alleged wrongdoing.
Bet Service Group Halts Operations at MGA Behest
The Bet Service Group has come under fire by one of the world’s most esteemed regulators, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). As per the temporary prohibition, Bet Service Group may no longer accept new customers or take bets.
The MGA issued a decision whereby Bet Service Group’s brands should immediately cease all operation. The Group will now have to submit a full report of its operations from across all brands and activities, which will then undergo review at the MGA’s headquarters.
Despite the quick and abrupt decision, MGA has issued no formal comment as to why it has suspended the Group’s license. The regulator has also advised customers with outstanding payments to contact the Malta Gaming Authority via e-mail where they will be instructed how to access their funds.
In order to verify their identities, users will have to send a full list of personal information, similar to their identity confirmation process at a casino. Players must also attach a screenshot of their account balance before the MGA can take any actions:
- Name and Surname;
- Registered Address;
- Date of Birth;
- Copy of Passport or ID Card;
- Telephone Number;
- Description of Product i.e. casino or sportsbook;
- User Name;
- Screenshot of Balance or any pending Cash Outs (if not available an estimated balance is to be submitted).
Crackdowns of Yore
The Malta Gaming Authority hasn’t been in the habit of suspending or revoking licenses much. The last time it did so was in 2017 when Mr. Ringo went down in similarly unspecified circumstances. Once again, the MGA remained available, helping customers retrieve their outstanding payments and account balances.
In general, the MGA has been issuing warnings to online gaming venues it has suspected of coloring around the lines, with license suspensions being reserved only for the cases whereby operators have been blatantly flouting the rules of their license.
Why the MGA Suspends Licenses?
There are multiple reasons why MGA could seek to suspend a license. Starting with stilting the Random Number Generator (RNG), to staging inside agents as winners, to failing to honor payments.
Most commonly, though, this measure is reserved only for companies that have repeatedly failed to uphold the minimum of their legally-binding license, leading to an outright license revocation.
Centurion Limited was another suspended casino back in June, 2017 with the MGA again keep the lid on the reason for the suspension. The MGA remains committed to upholding the industry’s best practices which could mean license suspension in the cases where operators repeatedly fail to meet the necessary standards.
