EU Revises AML Rules: Maltese Regulator Commenced Industry Discussions

The Maltese regulatory authority underscored that active involvement and expert contribution are instrumental in developing more effective legislative reforms. These changes will be grounded in the operational realities of the gambling market instead of broad assumptions.

Key Fields Affected by the Discussed Standards

The EU’s AMLA is currently reviewing updates to 3 batches of technical and supervisory standards that apply to businesses, including gaming projects.

The suggested revisions address several important compliance areas:

• conducting client due diligence;
• recognising undeclared business ties;
• defining lower thresholds for verification;
• detecting both isolated and linked transactions.

After the consultation process, the identified shortcomings and innovation gaps will be compiled into a separate report. The findings will subsequently be distributed among EU countries.

MGA’s Stance

The Maltese authority has expressed full endorsement for the project. Its representatives emphasise that early and active involvement is essential to build a solid regulatory framework. The legal foundation and technical compliance norms must align with practice and cover all industry risks.

As the region progresses towards more harmonised rules, the consultation stage provides licensees with a priceless chance to review suggested measures beforehand. It also allows them to submit ideas and arguments to improve business security and tackle fraud across both the online and land-based verticals.

Core Information About the AMLA

The body was launched in 2024 with the main objective of supervising the implementation of the EU’s AML Directive. The organisation also carries responsibility for reinforcing centralised oversight and coordinating cooperation among regulators across the Union’s member states.

The current consultations primarily focus on refining the technical standards and collecting feedback from stakeholders who were not engaged in earlier debates led by the European Banking Authority. The session on due diligence challenges was closed on March 9th. However, suggestions on other updates are being accepted until May 8th, 2026.

Online Gambling: Niche with Higher Money-Laundering Risks

Market representatives have long articulated concerns regarding stricter AML controls. These worries are substantiated by the most recent recommendation from the Isle of Man, a jurisdiction frequently compared to Malta and deemed one of Europe’s premier gambling hubs.

Results of the island’s National Risk Assessment:

1. The digital casino segment is classified as having a medium-to-high level of involvement in money laundering.
2. The land-based vertical received a medium-to-low rate, owing to its smaller scale and lower transaction volumes compared to the online niche.

Experts attribute these results to several factors:

• shell brands that obscure the ownership and control of gaming businesses;
• portals manipulated by organised crime groups, especially from East and Southeast Asia;
• the use of fake or stolen personal data to access services.

Artificial intelligence technologies are emerging as an additional threat to the gambling sphere. According to FATF’s report, fraudsters are actively exploiting AI tools to create deepfakes, disguise their identities, and automate illicit schemes.

Referring to this assessment, the Isle of Man’s GSC underlined their awareness of industry representatives’ concerns amid increasing ambiguity across diverse jurisdictions. Efforts are already in progress to strengthen supervision and collaboration among stakeholders. The report is expected to help preserve stability and international trust in the domestic entertainment market while bolstering the system for combating financial crime.

Gaminator’s team diligently monitors the gambling sphere to keep customers well-informed about the latest news and updates. Our specialists provide end-to-end support for the development and launch of entertainment projects in regulated jurisdictions. We will gladly assist you with licensing, software integration, and the creation of a robust business plan.