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A comprehensive undercover investigation was completed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) to find out the extent to which gambling sites actually protect their customers. In the first half of 2025, the regulator secretly assessed dozens of platforms using “mystery shoppers”. The overview revealed that a number of safety precautions are not effective in practice, even though the majority of companies follow the regulations. Vulnerable gamers can continue gambling despite their best efforts to stop, thanks to these gaps.
Testing the System with Secret Accounts
Instead of just checking paperwork, the MGA acted like real players to find hidden flaws. They created a clever three-step test to push the limits of operator software. First, they signed up for a baseline account to see how the site worked. Next, they blocked themselves from that brand and immediately tried to join a sister site owned by the same company. Finally, they tried to trick the systems by using slightly different names or addresses during registration to see if the software could spot the link.
Where the Safety Systems Failed
The results showed that “good on paper” does not always mean “good in practice.” The MGA found that some platforms take way too long to lock an account once a player asks to be banned. This delay creates a dangerous window where someone could lose a lot of money in a moment of crisis. Even worse, some sites let players jump back into gambling without waiting for a mandatory break period. The investigation also found that many platforms do not bother to ask new users to set spending limits when they first sign up.
Identity Mistakes and Poor Alerts
Technical errors were another major concern in the final report. Small modifications in personal information could easily trick a lot of gambling websites. It also suggests that someone who should be banned might just change a single word in their name to create a fresh profile. The “reality check” signals that appear throughout games were also condemned by the MGA. These notifications are meant to remind players how much time they have spent, but many were confusing or lacked the right data to be useful.
Forcing a Change in the Industry
The MGA is not letting these companies off the hook. Every operator that failed the secret shopper test must now submit a formal plan to fix their mistakes. The regulator’s approach to oversight is becoming far more assertive. Instead of being an afterthought, they aim to ensure security mechanisms are integrated into the software’s core.
The MGA also introduced a new anonymous self-assessment test to assist individuals in taking charge of their own behaviors. This tool allows anyone to check their gambling behavior without giving away their identity. By combining secret enforcement with better public tools, Malta is trying to force the industry to take player protection seriously. Operators now know that the next “new player” on their site might actually be a regulator watching their every move.
Source: MGA
