MGA Flags ‘Pattern’ of Impersonation as Three Unlicensed Sites Mislead Consumers
2026-07-17
The Malta Gaming Authority identified three websites impersonating licensed operators and warned consumers to verify licensing status via its official register, highlighting a pattern of misleading claims. The regulator also provided context of ongoing enforcement, including 42 fraudulent URLs found in 2025, as European debates on illegal gambling heat up.
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has issued a fresh warning about a growing trend of unlicensed gambling websites that mimic legitimate MGA-licensed operators, misleading consumers into believing they are regulated entities. The regulator identified three active domains – manekicasino.bet, dragonaracasino.uk.com, and slot-hunter.at – and explicitly stated it has no connection with them or with any licences they falsely claim to hold.
Sites and Suspected Impersonation
One of the flagged domains, dragonaracasino.uk.com, appears to impersonate the online arm of the land-based Dragonara Casino in St Julian’s, according to industry reports. The MGA’s notice stresses that any reference to the Authority or to a gaming licence said to be issued by it on these websites is “false and misleading.” The regulator noted that this is not an isolated incident but part of a “pattern” of operators imitating MGA-licensed brands to gain consumer trust.
Consumer Advisory and Risks
The MGA reminded the public not to use gambling services from any entity without first verifying its licensing status via the official Licensee Register. “Whereas MGA-licensed operators comply with strict legal requirements in the interest of consumers, the activities of unlicensed entities are unregulated, and do not provide the necessary safeguards delineated by virtue of the gaming regulatory framework,” the Authority stated. Transactions with such sites carry elevated risks, as users lack the player-fund protections, complaints procedures, and compliance controls required of authorised operators.
Broader Regulatory Context
The latest notice extends a long-running effort by the MGA to combat the misuse of its name. In 2025, the regulator reviewed 109 unauthorised URLs and found that 42 contained fraudulent references to the Authority or its licensees. It also issued 35 cease-and-desist letters and 30 administrative penalties during that year. The domain slot-hunter.at had already appeared in a 2025 MGA warning, indicating that some impersonating sites persist or reappear after initial notices.
The warning comes amid wider European debate on the size of the illegal gambling market. The UK and Netherlands face scrutiny over how tax increases and other policies have driven players to unlicensed operators. Separately, Germany’s gambling regulator reported in mid-2026 that 254 illegal online operators had withdrawn from its market by the end of 2025, with 370 advertisers ceasing to promote illegal brands.
The MGA’s enforcement toolkit includes warnings, administrative penalties, licence suspensions, and cancellations, while public notices serve to alert consumers whenever an offshore website makes deceptive claims about Maltese regulation.