GGL Voices Concern Over Malta's Gambling Law

Germany's gaming regulator Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) this week voiced concerns about the new Maltese bill that will protect the country's licenced gaming operators from legal actions in Europe.

The piece of legislation is formally known as Bill 55 and would shield operators from legal actions in European markets if they hold a valid gaming licence through the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). The reasoning for this is that Malta's lawmakers claim that the European Union's treaty that permits the free flow of services. This comes as regulators in various countries such as Germany have initiated Maltese court cases going after gaming operators for providing gambling services to their citizens.

This is being challenged by Germany, as well as other countries, who cite a 2017 European Commission ruling to the contrary. GGL claims that the bill is not compatible with EU law and that Germany's Ministry of Justice has broached the subject with the European Commission.

The GGL says that they're assuming the European Commission will strike down the law and will not take further action at this time.

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