MGA cancels Winzon licence, orders refunds, imposes penalties | AGB
Summary
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has cancelled the B2C licence held by Winzon Group Limited (licence ref: MGA/B2C/717/2019), with effect retroactive to 11 March 2026. Using regulation 10(2)(b) of the Gaming Compliance and Enforcement Regulations, the MGA bypassed the usual 20-day show-cause period and required Winzon to halt operations immediately.
Winzon must notify players of the licence cancellation for 30 days, refund all legitimate player balances in line with Malta’s Gaming Act, and supply transaction reports and bank statements proving refunds. The operator must also handle personal data according to its privacy policy and applicable data protection law and remove all references to MGA authorisation at once.
The MGA has ordered payment of outstanding fees totalling EUR46,693.23 and imposed administrative penalties of EUR147,080 for multiple breaches of the Gaming Act and related rules. The group reportedly ran more than 40 MGA-approved websites and worked with providers such as Tom Horn Gaming, Oryx Gaming, EveryMatrix and Relax Gaming. The MGA reserves the right to take further action if obligations are not met.
Key Points
- The MGA cancelled Winzon Group Limited’s B2C licence (MGA/B2C/717/2019), effective retroactively from 11 March 2026.
- The authority used regulation 10(2)(b) to skip the standard 20-day show-cause period and order an immediate cessation of operations.
- Winzon must notify players for 30 days, refund all legitimate player balances and provide bank statements and transaction reports confirming refunds.
- The operator must comply with data‑protection obligations, explain post-termination data handling, and remove all MGA authorisation claims immediately.
- Outstanding fees of EUR46,693.23 are due; administrative penalties total EUR147,080 for numerous breaches.
- Winzon operated a network of 40+ MGA-approved sites and used established platform/content suppliers; the enforcement follows broader Maltese fiscal and regulatory changes (legal notices 84 and 86).
Why should I read this?
Short and blunt: the MGA pulled the plug, hit Winzon with refunds and chunky fines, and made it fast. If you work in iGaming — whether operator, supplier, affiliate or compliance — this is one to note. It shows Malta is stepping up enforcement and won’t hang about when it finds breaches.
Context and Relevance
This decision underlines tightening regulatory scrutiny in Malta and signals that the MGA is willing to act swiftly and retroactively when it finds serious non-compliance. Coupled with recent legal notices (84 and 86) clarifying VAT and restructuring gaming tax, the move increases operational and fiscal pressure on licence holders and their partners.
For operators and suppliers, the case highlights the need for robust compliance, accurate financial segregation of player funds, transparent data handling and prompt regulatory reporting. Affiliates and content/platform partners should also reassess exposure to operators facing regulatory action in Malta, as continuity and reputational risk can escalate quickly.