Malta Cancels Winzon Licence and Orders Immediate Shutdown
Malta Cancels Winzon Group Licence With Immediate Effect – MGA Orders Player Refunds and Operational Shutdown
Key Takeaways
- The Malta Gaming Authority has cancelled Winzon Group’s B2C gaming service licence with effect from 11 March 2026.
- The cancellation was issued under a legal provision allowing the MGA to bypass the standard 20-day notice period.
- Winzon must shut down operations immediately, notify players, refund legitimate balances, and settle outstanding fees and penalties.
- The operator owes €46,693.23 in licence and compliance fees and €147,080 in administrative penalties.
- Separately, Malta has announced VAT and gaming tax reforms scheduled to take effect on 1 October 2026.
MGA Cancels Winzon Group Licence Under Special Enforcement Provision
The Malta Gaming Authority has proceeded with the immediate cancellation of Winzon Group’s B2C gaming service licence. The decision applies retroactively from 11 March 2026.
According to the authority, the cancellation was issued in accordance with the proviso to regulation 10 (2) (b) of the Gaming Compliance and Enforcement Regulations (S.L. 583.06). This legal provision allows the regulator to bypass the standard 20-day show cause notice period that would normally apply in enforcement cases.
By invoking this mechanism, the MGA required the operator to cease its gaming operations without delay. The authority stated that the decision relates to numerous shortcomings in contravention of the Act and regulatory instruments issued under it.
Immediate Operational Obligations and Player Refund Requirements
Following the cancellation, Winzon Group has been instructed to shut down its operations immediately. The MGA has also imposed several specific obligations designed to address player interests and regulatory compliance.
The operator must notify players of the licence cancellation both via email and through notices published on its websites for a period of 30 days. In addition, Winzon is required to refund all legitimate players and submit a transaction report to the authority. This report must be supported by corresponding bank statements as proof that refunds have been processed.
The MGA further directed the company to process personal data in accordance with its privacy policy and any applicable data protection legislation. This includes informing players appropriately about how their data will be handled.
Winzon must also remove all references to the MGA and its authorisation from its websites. Despite the cancellation, the authority stated that the company will remain liable for all applicable obligations arising from the Act and other relevant regulatory instruments.
Outstanding Fees and Administrative Penalties
In addition to operational measures, the MGA has detailed financial liabilities that Winzon must settle.
The operator is required to pay €46,693.23 in outstanding MGA fees. This amount covers the annual licence fee as well as minimum compliance contributions owed to the authority.
Separately, Winzon must pay €147,080 in administrative penalties. The MGA attributed these penalties to numerous regulatory shortcomings identified under the applicable legal framework.
Before the cancellation, Winzon had more than 40 websites approved by the MGA. Software providers present on its platforms included Tom Horn Gaming, Oryx Gaming, Booming Games, EveryMatrix and Relax Gaming.
Malta Announces VAT and Gaming Tax Reforms Effective October 2026
The licence cancellation comes at a time when Malta is introducing broader changes to its gaming tax framework. The MGA and the Malta Tax and Customs Administration have announced amendments following the publication of legal notices 84 and 86.
The reforms aim to clarify and adjust the VAT treatment of gaming services. Planned amendments to the VAT Act will clarify exemptions, implement place of supply rules, and address input VAT recovery.
Changes will also affect gaming tax regulations. The updated framework will introduce simplified and equitable gaming tax rates for both land based and online operators offering qualifying gaming activities to players present in Malta.
In addition, the current gaming tax and device levy will be consolidated into a single streamlined gaming tax structure. This new structure will be classified by game type and mode of offer.
According to the MGA, the changes were driven by industry feedback and form part of its 2026 budget measures. The authority described the revised gaming tax framework as specifically designed to ensure a well balanced overall impact on Malta’s gaming services sector.
The reforms are scheduled to take effect on 1 October 2026. Further guidance from both the MGA and the Malta Tax and Customs Administration is expected to be issued in due course.
Regulatory Implications for Licensed Operators and Players
The immediate cancellation of Winzon’s licence highlights the enforcement tools available to the Maltese regulator, including the ability to bypass the standard notice period in certain circumstances. For operators licensed in Malta, the case illustrates the financial and operational consequences that can follow findings of regulatory non compliance.
For players, the decision triggers a formal refund process overseen by the authority. The requirement for transaction reports and supporting bank statements indicates that the MGA expects documented evidence of player fund repayments.
At the same time, the forthcoming VAT and gaming tax reforms signal structural adjustments to the fiscal framework governing gaming services in Malta. These measures will apply to operators offering qualifying gaming activities to players present in Malta from October 2026.
Our Assessment
The MGA has cancelled Winzon Group’s B2C licence with retroactive effect and required the immediate shutdown of operations, player notifications, refunds, and payment of outstanding fees and penalties. The decision was taken under a regulatory provision that allows the authority to bypass the standard notice period.
Separately, Malta has confirmed amendments to its VAT and gaming tax regime, including clarified VAT rules and a consolidated gaming tax structure effective from 1 October 2026. Together, these developments reflect both enforcement action at operator level and structural adjustments to the country’s gaming tax framework.
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