The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has warned consumers against three active gambling websites that it says are impersonating licensed operators and displaying false claims of regulatory approval.
The regulator identified Manekicasino.bet, Dragonaracasino.uk.com and Slot-hunter.at, stating that it has no connection with the domains or with any gaming licences referenced on them.
Unlike earlier MGA notices that primarily disassociated the Authority from unauthorised URLs, the latest warning describes a wider pattern in which websites imitate MGA-licensed operators.
This can give consumers the impression that a platform is operated by, connected to or authorised under the same licence as an established gambling business.
The MGA has advised players to check an operator’s licence status through its official Licensee Register before depositing funds or using gambling services.
Unlicensed websites fall outside Malta’s regulatory framework, meaning users may lack the player-fund protections, complaints procedures and compliance controls required of authorised operators.
The notice adds to a growing list of domains carrying false references to Malta’s licensing system. The MGA issued a separate warning in June concerning six websites it said had no connection with the Authority despite displaying references to MGA licences.
Further domains have also been added to the regulator’s unauthorised URL register during 2026. Slot-hunter.at had previously appeared in an MGA warning in 2025, indicating that some domains can remain active or reappear after an initial regulatory notice.
The MGA’s 2025 Annual Report recorded 109 reviews of unauthorised URLs, with 42 found to contain fraudulent references to the Authority or its licensees.
The regulator’s response to unauthorised gambling sites operates alongside its supervision of Malta-licensed businesses under the Gaming Act. Its enforcement tools include warnings, administrative penalties, licence suspensions and cancellations, while public notices are used to alert consumers when an offshore website makes misleading regulatory claims.
Earlier this month, the MGA reported that it issued 19 licences during 2025 while expanding oversight across player protection, anti-money laundering controls, sports integrity and unauthorised gambling websites. The regulator also issued 35 cease and desist letters and 30 administrative penalties during the year.
The MGA maintains a public register of URLs that it says have falsely claimed a connection to the Authority or a Malta gaming licence
