MGA denies connection with brazen Indonesian operator ASTRA777 claiming to hold Malta licence

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has issued a statement disavowing Indonesian language operator 139.59.223.220, branded as ASTRA777.

In the statement, the regulator said that any reference to it on ASTRA777's website or claims about a licence it issued the operator "are false and misleading."

The MGA issues similar statements on a regular basis in an attempt to preserve consumer confidence in its licence, but the subject of this one is notable for both the brazenness of its claims and the fact the website is still accessible in Malta.

Not only does the site purportedly have an MGA licence, it also displays the logos of the UK's Gambling Commission and the Philippine regulator PAGCOR.

iGamingCapital.mt searched the public registers of both regulators and found no reference to either 139.59.223.220 or ASTRA777.

The site also features the logos of independent gaming testing laboratory BMM Testlabs, Gaming Labs, and iTech Labs.

While these firms do not have publicly listed registers, it sees unlikely ASTRA777 was certified by them considering its aforementioned outlandish claims.

The operator ostensibly features games from prominent suppliers like Pragmatic Play, Habanero and YGGDRASIL.

Its offering is said to be powered by Nuke Gaming - the self-professed "best seamless white label iGaming platform."

False licence claims damage the reputability of regulators and risks letting players be exposed to illegitimate or illegal operators, with players usually able to regard the MGA, UKGC or PAGCOR stamps of approval as guaranteeing the legitimacy and fairness of an iGaming operator.