Compliance of platforms with MGA, Curacao, UKGC regulations
Introduction
To operate legally in the markets of Europe and Asia, the online casino platform must strictly comply with the requirements of three main regulators: Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), Curacao eGaming and UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Each jurisdiction presents its own set of technical, financial and operational norms. Key requirements and implementation examples at the architecture and microservices level are described below.
1. RNG Certification and Gaming Integrity
MGA and UKGC require mandatory certification of a random number generator by an accredited laboratory (eCOGRA, iTech Labs).
Implementation: integrate the RNG module as a separate microservice (RNG Service) with the API'POST/rng/next' → returns' randomNumber ', logging requests to immutable storage.
Audit logs: all calls and responses are stored in a WORM bucket (S3 + Object Lock) with timestamps and a digital signature.
Curacao imposes less stringent regulations, but requires an annual review of the RNG and the publication of reports.
Implementation: Jenkins' planned pipeline to automatically run 10⁶ number generation and RTP distribution analysis scenarios, the results are automatically published on the internal portal.
2. KYC/AML and Player Defense
2. 1 KYC/AML
MGA: mandatory identification of all players before the first withdrawal, storage of copies of documents for at least 7 years, PEP/Sanctions-screening.
UKGC: KYC at the high-risk level of clients (VIP, large conclusions), but requires source of funds verification in large transactions.
Curacao: basic KYC without hard shelf life, but the operator is still obliged to fight money laundering.
Technical implementation:
2. 2 Responsible Gaming
UKGC and MGA require self-exclusion mechanisms, deposit and loss limits, regular reminders.
Implementation:
3. Transaction Storage and Reporting
MGA and UKGC: require monthly and annual financial statements, export transactions to XML/CSV with specific schemes.
Curacao: reports on demand, but also mandatory tracking of all deposits and payments.
Technical implementation:
4. IT Security and Compliance
4. 1 Network segmentation and encryption
MGA и UKGC: TLS 1. 2 + on all channels, PFS, regular rotation of certificates; private network for microservices.
Implementation:
4. 2 Managing secrets
All jurisdictions are required to store API keys, certificates and passwords in secure storage.
Implementation:
5. Localization and multi-currency
UKGC and MGA: the platform must support pounds, euros and GBP scales; Curacao allows any currency.
Implementation:
6. License Updates and Audits
MGA: annual license renewal with evidence of the functioning of all compliance modules.
UKGC: periodic checks of system logs, confirmation of SLA and uptime ≥ 99.5%.
Implementation:
Conclusion
Compliance with the requirements of MGA, Curacao and UKGC is a complex task covering RNG certification, KYC/AML processes, responsible-gaming, security, reporting and infrastructure standards. A centralized microservice architecture with separate modules for compliance, transactions, and monitoring allows software configuration of tenant-aware configurations, multi-jurisdictional support, and online auditing without downtime.
To operate legally in the markets of Europe and Asia, the online casino platform must strictly comply with the requirements of three main regulators: Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), Curacao eGaming and UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Each jurisdiction presents its own set of technical, financial and operational norms. Key requirements and implementation examples at the architecture and microservices level are described below.
1. RNG Certification and Gaming Integrity
MGA and UKGC require mandatory certification of a random number generator by an accredited laboratory (eCOGRA, iTech Labs).
Implementation: integrate the RNG module as a separate microservice (RNG Service) with the API'POST/rng/next' → returns' randomNumber ', logging requests to immutable storage.
Audit logs: all calls and responses are stored in a WORM bucket (S3 + Object Lock) with timestamps and a digital signature.
Curacao imposes less stringent regulations, but requires an annual review of the RNG and the publication of reports.
Implementation: Jenkins' planned pipeline to automatically run 10⁶ number generation and RTP distribution analysis scenarios, the results are automatically published on the internal portal.
2. KYC/AML and Player Defense
2. 1 KYC/AML
MGA: mandatory identification of all players before the first withdrawal, storage of copies of documents for at least 7 years, PEP/Sanctions-screening.
UKGC: KYC at the high-risk level of clients (VIP, large conclusions), but requires source of funds verification in large transactions.
Curacao: basic KYC without hard shelf life, but the operator is still obliged to fight money laundering.
Technical implementation:
- KYC Service: microservice with API 'POST/kyc/submit' and Webhook-callback from provider (Onfido, Sumsub).
- Storage in PMS: state'kycStatus' and 'riskLevel', methods' GET/players/{ id }/kyc'for other services.
- Sanctions: integration of PEP/Sanctions via batch-and real-time API (World-Check), each match → the flag'kycStatus = highRisk'.
2. 2 Responsible Gaming
UKGC and MGA require self-exclusion mechanisms, deposit and loss limits, regular reminders.
Implementation:
- RG Service: Microservice stores'exclusionList 'and'limitSettings' per player.
- Middleware: Checks'exclusion 'and'limit' on each deposit request → blocking or prompting.
- Cron-jobs: daily "reaching the limit" reminders via Notification Service.
3. Transaction Storage and Reporting
MGA and UKGC: require monthly and annual financial statements, export transactions to XML/CSV with specific schemes.
Curacao: reports on demand, but also mandatory tracking of all deposits and payments.
Technical implementation:
- Transaction Service: ACID microservice on PostgreSQL with table 'transactions' (fields: 'txId', 'playerId', 'type', 'amount', 'currency', 'timestamp', 'provider', 'status').
- Report Generator: Python/Node component. js, which according to the schedule generates files according to the regulator template and uploads them to a secure SFTP directory.
- Audit Trail: immutable logs of all CRUD transactions of the transaction table in a separate transaction _ audit table.
4. IT Security and Compliance
4. 1 Network segmentation and encryption
MGA и UKGC: TLS 1. 2 + on all channels, PFS, regular rotation of certificates; private network for microservices.
Implementation:
- Service Mesh (Istio): mTLS between Kubernetes podes.
- WAF and DDoS protection: AWS WAF + Shield or Cloudflare Spectrum for protection against layers 3-7.
- VPN/IP-sec: for admin access to the internal API.
4. 2 Managing secrets
All jurisdictions are required to store API keys, certificates and passwords in secure storage.
Implementation:
- Vault (HashiCorp) or Cloud KMS: central storage of secrets, automatic key rotation.
- CI/CD integration: inject secrets at the deploy stage via Jenkins/GitLab CI, without solid storage in the repository.
5. Localization and multi-currency
UKGC and MGA: the platform must support pounds, euros and GBP scales; Curacao allows any currency.
Implementation:
- Currency Service: microservice with dynamic course updates, REST/WebSocket API, guaranteed TTL = 60 s and fallback.
- i18n/L10n Service: centralized resource UI files, modules for translating legal texts and bonus terms into local languages.
6. License Updates and Audits
MGA: annual license renewal with evidence of the functioning of all compliance modules.
UKGC: periodic checks of system logs, confirmation of SLA and uptime ≥ 99.5%.
Implementation:
- Compliance Dashboard: The web console shows the status of all modules (KYC, Transaction Service, RNG), the date of the next audit and the reminder.
- Automated Health-Checks: '/health/compliance/* 'endpoints for external auditor and internal monitoring.
Conclusion
Compliance with the requirements of MGA, Curacao and UKGC is a complex task covering RNG certification, KYC/AML processes, responsible-gaming, security, reporting and infrastructure standards. A centralized microservice architecture with separate modules for compliance, transactions, and monitoring allows software configuration of tenant-aware configurations, multi-jurisdictional support, and online auditing without downtime.
