The MGA Presents the AI Gaming Charter Following Collaborative Process

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), in collaboration with the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA), has officially announced the launch of the AI Gaming Charter. This initiative establishes a voluntary sector framework to guide the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) within gaming operations, reinforcing standards of transparency and accountability. The presentation took place during an event bringing together industry stakeholders, the public sector, and the tech community, where the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, as well as the importance of responsible governance, were discussed.

Main Objectives of the MGA AI Gaming Charter

The core of the AI Gaming Charter focuses on providing gaming organizations with clear guidelines on how to employ artificial intelligence ethically and transparently. This framework adopts a principle-based approach and complements existing regulations, including the EU AI Act. The Charter is not mandatory but seeks to support self-management and continuous improvement in the adoption and governance of AI.

Highlighted objectives include:

• Promoting the responsible and transparent use of AI within gaming operations.
• Guiding the integration of ethical practices and human oversight mechanisms in the design and utilization of AI systems.
• Offering practical guidance tailored to the operational and regulatory reality specific to the gaming sector in Malta.

Consultation Process and Joint Development

The AI Charter is the result of an extensive collaborative process between the MGA, the MDIA, and industry participants. Development included sector surveys, discussion rounds aimed at gaming licensees, and a specific public consultation. This methodology facilitated the identification of real needs and adapted the framework to ensure its applicability, proportionality, and responsiveness to the technological challenges and changes within the sector.

Multisector Participation

During the launch event, representatives from technology companies, gaming operators, public institutions, and digital governance experts participated. This pluralistic approach sought to ensure that the Charter responds to regulatory concerns as well as the expectations of users and business innovation.

Current Applications of AI in Gaming

AI is already an integral part of multiple functions within the gaming sector. Highlighted use cases include:

• Player protection through automated mechanisms for detecting problematic behavior.
• Prevention and detection of fraud in transactions and operations.
• Customer interaction and support through virtual assistants and automated data analysis.
• Operational decision-making assisted by AI systems.

The AI Gaming Charter encourages entities to incorporate governance structures and human review in the development and deployment of these systems to preserve transparency and accountability before users and authorities.

Statements from the MGA and MDIA on the AI Charter

Charles Mizzi, CEO of the Malta Gaming Authority, defined the initiative as "a shared commitment among regulators, the industrial sector, and technology experts to promote the responsible and transparent use of artificial intelligence. Our role as regulators is not to stifle innovation, but to provide the certainty and trust necessary for innovation to flourish responsibly."

For his part, Kenneth Brincat, CEO of the Malta Digital Innovation Authority, added that "trust is fundamental for the responsible adoption of AI. As its use becomes widespread in the gaming sector, organizations need practical ways to identify where AI is being used, manage risks, and preserve accountability and human oversight. The AI Charter turns these principles into a concrete guide, leveraging both the MDIA's expertise in AI governance and the MGA's deep understanding of the gaming sector in Malta."

"Collaboration shows how Malta can support technological innovation while maintaining transparency, accountability, and trust in AI." — Kenneth Brincat, CEO, MDIA

Relationship with Existing Regulatory Frameworks and Next Steps

The AI Gaming Charter for gaming does not replace existing regulations but reinforces them, as is the case with compliance with the EU AI Act. It provides additional mechanisms to identify, manage, and oversee the risks associated with AI in specific contexts of online and in-person gaming. Authorities encourage operators to voluntarily adopt the Charter and regularly assess their internal policies under this framework, contributing to both user protection and the development of a responsible innovation environment.

Further analysis on AI regulatory frameworks and their impact on the industry is available in the regulation and news sections.