Lock Poker in Trouble over Display of LGA of Malta Seal - 09-09-11

September 9 - Lock Poker has been the cause of some harsh words from the Malta Gaming Commission. According to the Commission, Lock Poker has been displaying its seal of approval without being licensed or regulated by them. The Malta Gaming Authority denies ever having had anything to do with the online poker site.

A statement issued on the Malta Gaming Commission website said: "The Lotteries and Gaming Authority (the Authority) would like to inform the public that the website http://lockpoker.eu/ has no connection whatsoever with the Authority and therefore any mention of the Authority or license issue by the Authority on the mentioned website is false and misleading."

Sites With LGA of Malta Seal Deemed Safe

The Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta urges all online players to play only at regulated and licensed sites that display the LGA of Malta seal and to avoid all un-regulated and un-licensed sites.

The LGA of Malta issues four different types of licenses to online gaming sites. Three of these types of licenses are issued for online gambling sites with operators who provide software solutions that offer services and player management. The category four license is for platform operators who host and manage other remote gambling operators and is not connected to managing players. The Merge Gaming Network, which is affiliated with Lock Poker, holds a type four license.

It is interesting to note that other sites on the Merge Gaming Network, such as Overbet Poker, Black Chip Poker and Hero Poker, also display the LGA of Malta seal of approval. These sites have had no objection from the Malta Gaming Commission.

Lock Poker In News Over Scandal

Lock Poker has been in the news lately over other issues. They are one of the more popular skins on the Merge Gaming Network, but they received some unwanted publicity when their sponsored pro, José Macedo admitted that he cheated fellow players in a hole-card sharing scandal. Lock Poker pursued legal action over the incident. This new scandal has once again brought the poker site into the news, although it remains unclear why the Malta Gaming Commission decide to object to Lock Poker specifically while ignoring the other skins that display their seal of approval.