The Malta Gaming Authority and Malta Digital Innovation Authority have issued the AI Gaming Charter, a voluntary framework for artificial intelligence use in gambling. The document builds on the EU AI Act and GDPR but adds sector-specific guidance, including energy-practice checks for AI suppliers — model training and operation consume significant resources.
The charter covers transparency, human oversight, data governance, fairness, system reliability and environmental sustainability. Players must know when they interact with AI; deepfakes and generated content require disclosure under Article 50 of the EU AI Act. Licensees must maintain an AI-systems register and apply risk-based assessment. In critical operations such as account suspension or problem-gambling intervention, AI may assist but not replace human decision-making.
An industry survey within the charter found uneven adoption: many companies remain at proof-of-concept or MVP stage. AI is deployed in responsible-gambling modelling, fraud and AML detection, recommendation engines, KYC, player onboarding, payment processing, HR and acquisition. Some licensees have moved past experiments but are testing practical use before full rollout. A separate study by The Playa found 38% of VIP managers fear loss of personal contact through automation.
Charles Mizzi, chief executive of the MGA, called the charter a balance: the regulator's role is not to block innovation but to enable responsible development. Kenneth Brincat of the MDIA said the document translates trust and accountability principles into actionable industry guidance.
