Unauthorised URLs using old MGA logo and fake license

February 5, 2025

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has issued a public notice listing a number of unauthorised URLs falsely claiming to hold licences issued by the regulatory body.

The sites in question include:

https://vavadahades.com/
https://fortwinbam.com/
https://debet.moi/
https://debet.bot/

Outdated logos

At the time of publishing, all URLs still displayed an outdated MGA logo.

A look at betting site fortwinbam.com reveals a number of logos, displayed at the bottom of the page, which reload the same betting site when clicked. The MGA logo displayed is outdated. Both debet.bot and debet.moi have the same outdated MGA logo displayed at the bottom of the page.

Fake license screenshot

The Vavada URL does not display an MGA logo. However, this is where it gets interesting, it has a “License” link at the bottom of the page (right next to a “Responsible gaming” link), which displays a screenshot of an alleged MGA license (with an outdated MGA logo). The licence number is displayed as MGA/B2C/314/2015. A search of the latter on MGA’s Licence Register did not prove successful. The licensee information is attributed to Genesis Global Limited. As reported by SiGMA news, the Maltese regulator initially suspended Genesis Global Ltd.’s licence (MGA/CRP/314/2015) in January 2023 and cancelled it one year later. The latter license number is different from the one displayed in Vavada’s screenshot of the license.

Contacted by SiGMA News, a spokesperson for the regulator confirmed that the license displayed in the screenshot is fake: “We confirm that MGA/B2C/314/2015 was never issued to Genesis Global Limited or to any other of our licensees. Additionally, the dynamic seal of authorisation shown in your screenshot below is fraudulent.”

Fake MGA License — ***MGA confirmed to SiGMA News that the screenshot is a fake license, never issued by the regulator.***

Protecting players

In its statement, the MGA made it clear that any claims by these websites about being licensed by the Maltese authority are “false and misleading.” The authority specified that it has no connection with these operators and warned consumers about the risks of using services provided by unlicensed entities.

The MGA reminded the public to verify that any gaming services they use are authorised by the MGA, as unlicensed operators fall outside the protections of Malta’s regulatory framework. Licensed operators must meet rigorous legal requirements designed to protect consumers, whereas unlicensed platforms do not provide the necessary safeguards, posing various risks to users.

In its notice, the MGA further advised consumers to refer to its official list of licensed entities, which can be searched by licensee name, authorisation status, or service type. This list is continuously updated to provide the latest information and can be accessed through the MGA’s website.

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