MGA streamlines Return to Player percentage for both remote and land-based sectors

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has published amendments to Article 22 of the Player Protection Directive, which represent an effort to streamline the minimum Return to Player (RTP) percentage applicable to licensees across all sectors.

To do so, the amendment lowers the existing minimum RTP percentage (applicable to online operators) from 92 per cent to 85 per cent, bringing it in line with that required of land-based operators.

According to the MGA, “the lowering of the existing RTP percentage has been identified as the most suitable policy measure as it creates a sense of consistency in relation to the requirements laid out for the land-based and removing gaming sectors, removing the discrepancy that exists between both sectors”.

The Authority also notes, however, that all respondents to its consultation observed that the games were likely to be offered at an RTP percentage higher than the minimum established by law.

“Whilst the law does not effectively preclude operators from maintaining a higher level of RTP, the amendment to Article 22 of the Directive creates a level playing field for all MGA-license operators which use repetitively generated random selection for determining winning combinations to players”.

Acknowledging that “responsible decision-making necessitates the consideration of feedback provided by industry stakeholders”, the MGA explains that it conducted a consultation this month to assess the viability of the proposed change.

The consultation, it says, involved a number of industry stakeholders across 10 countries, including consultants and both B2B and B2C operators.

In addition, the MGA comments that it also carried out a comparative analysis on the applicability of the RTP percentages that one may find in selected jurisdictions throughout the European Union (EU), and also outside the of the EU, the results of which are highlighted in the Authority’s consultation document.