Malta regulator cancels PokerGrant operator’s licence

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has cancelled RMI Limited’s B2C gaming service licence in the country after ruling that the operator breached rules regarding regulatory payments and data provisions.

RMI Limited, which had been operating online poker site PokerGrant under its Malta licence, was found to be in breach of paragraph E and H of the Third Schedule to the Gaming Act.

In relation to paragraph E, the MGA said RMI Limited failed to pay in a timely manner amounts due to the regulator, including all compliance contribution fees, its licence fee for 2018 and additional sums owed.

The MGA also said RMI Limited failed to submit its January 2019 Player Funds Report and the relevant applications for the appointment of key functions. This amounted to a breach of paragraph H, which requires licensees to make key data available to the regulator. 

As a result, RMI Limited is no longer authorised to carry out any gaming operations, register new players or accept new customer deposits.

However, the operator is required to retain and provide access to all registered customers to their player accounts, as well as refund player balances.

The MGA noted that RMI has the option to appeal its decision.

The ruling comes at the end of a week in which the MGA has established a new Sports Integrity Unit to help increase focus and resources dedicated to preventing the manipulation of sporting events and competitions.

The regulator also released new guidelines governing licensees' advertising and established a new committee to ensure compliance with the new rules this week.