Through a notice issued on their official website, the Malta Gaming Authority (the 'MGA') yesterday afternoon reminded all licensed entities providing services to or out of Malta of their obligations under the Commercial Communications Regulations1 (the 'Regulations'). These Regulations are applicable to all authorised persons offering a licensable game, and any person or entity providing any service to an authorised person in order to provide said licensable game.
Commercial Communications are defined within Article 2 of the Gaming Definitions Regulations2 as being any; "text, images, sound or any other medium transmitting information, designed to promote, directly or indirectly, the goods, services, image or brand of a person pursuing a licensable gaming activity". The definition utilised by the law is very broad, with Article 2 also confirming that any product placement or promotion would also fall within the definition of Commercial Communications.
Based off Article 5 of the Regulations, which states that all Commercial Communications made by the licence holder or their provider must be socially responsible, the MGA has stated that there cannot be any direct or indirect reference to Covid-19 or any related circumstance as this would amount to a breach of the Regulations. The MGA stated that it was taking the opportunity to highlight the fact that the current climate could be upsetting to players.
The MGA closed off its notice by listing some of the limitations as stated in Article 6 of the Regulations, mainly that Commercial Communications can never;
- Portray, condone or encourage behaviour which is socially irresponsible or could lead to anti-social behaviour;
- Suggest that gaming can be a resolution to social or personal problems;
- Suggest that gaming can be an alternative to employment, or a solution to financial concerns, or a form of financial investment;
- Portray gaming as being socially attractive;
- Suggest that solitary gaming is preferable to social gaming;
Footnotes
1 Gaming Commercial Communications Regulations - Subsidiary Legislation 583.09 of the Laws of Malta
2 Gaming Definitions Regulations - Subsidiary Legislation 583.04 of the Laws of Malta
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