In the first half of 2025, the Malta Gaming Authority received 28 applications for new gaming licences, reflecting continued interest from operators seeking to enter the regulated Maltese market.
The MGA is expected to release a full-year industry performance report in the second half of 2026 as part of its Annual Report for the financial year ending 31 December 2025.
#MGA report outlines regulatory activity and gaming sector trends in Q1 2025
The Interim Performance Report for January to June 2025 has been published by the Malta Gaming Authority. The report presents a summary of the Authority's achievements during the first half of 2025, as well as a description of the Maltese gaming industry's performance during the same period.
The latter offers a medium-term forecast for the future along with an analysis that highlights key data for the online and offline gaming sectors.
#Authorisation Activities
- The MGA approved 8 licenses out of 28 applications for additional gaming licenses between January and June 2025. Additionally, it awarded 5 license renewals after receiving 11 applications from operators seeking to extend their gaming licenses, which were set to expire in the first half of 2025.
- A permission is needed for low-risk games, however it is only good for one event and expires after it is over. In order to achieve this, the MGA awarded 75 certificates for commercial communication games, 8 permissions for non-profit lotteries, and 898 permits for non-profit tombola.
- The MGA conducted 723 criminal probity screening checks on authorized individuals, individuals with qualifying interests, directors, key personnel, and any third party funding or otherwise controlling an authorized individual from both the land-based and online gaming sectors as part of its application evaluation process.
- Complex applications were forwarded to the Fit and Proper Committee, which rendered 34 rulings. The Committee found that the requirements for being deemed appropriate and proper were not fulfilled in four instances.
- The Supervisory Council examined 16 applications for gaming licenses, including those to renew an existing license as well as those to gain a new one. 2 of these applications were denied because, after the "Minded Letter" procedure was finished, it was discovered that the information or submission sent to the Authority regarding such licence applications was incorrect, deceptive, inaccurate, or materially deficient.
#Supervisory Functions
- The MGA conducted seven full-scope compliance examinations in the first six months of 2025, which were supplemented by a total of 87 thematic reviews in the areas of compliance, player protection, and sport betting integrity.
- The Authority addressed 1,720 requests for help (including spillover from 2024) as part of its efforts to protect players and encourage responsible gambling.
- Additionally, between January and June 2025, the MGA received 891 player funds reports and completed 9 data extractions as part of its ongoing efforts to protect player funds.
- In order to enhance its efforts to identify unauthorised URLs associated with illicit gaming activity, the Authority reviewed a total of 75 URLs, of which 34 were discovered to contain fraudulent references to the Authority or its licensees. These were incorporated into the publicly accessible roster on our website.
- Regarding potential violations of the Gaming Commercial Communications Regulations, the Commercial Communications Committee rendered four rulings.
- The FIAU or the MGA on its behalf initiated 11 AML/CFT Compliance Examinations during the first 6 months of 2025. Additionally, 11 Compliance Examinations were completed, and a closure letter was issued to a licensee who effectively resolved the identified issues following the receipt of a report.
- Additionally, the FIAU's Remediation Directives enforced remediation actions on three licensees.
- The MGA also conducted 16 interviews with potential MLROs to verify that they possess the necessary knowledge and cognizance of the Maltese AML/CFT legal framework.
- It conducted 4,198 inspections of gaming establishments (including casinos and commercial bingo halls), controlled gaming establishments, national lottery outlets (including National Lottery Outlets – Controlled Gaming Premises), and non-profit tombolas throughout the reporting period.
#Enforcement Measures
- In addition, the MGA issued 23 prohibition alerts, 15 warnings, 23 administrative penalties totaling €139,360, and one license cancellation between January and June 2025.
- One appeal was filed during the initial six months of 2025. However, it is currently pending. Additionally, 2 appeals that were filed in previous years were withdrawn.
#International and National Collaboration
- The MGA received 149 allegations of suspicious betting from licensees between January and June of 2025. Following improved risk-based screening, it shared 88 alerts on suspicious betting with licensees as part of its ongoing efforts to combat match-fixing and malicious betting. It also took part in 30 investigations worldwide.
- The MGA also participated in 41 instances of data exchanges and collaborated with enforcement agencies, sports governing bodies, integrity units, and other regulatory authorities on 25 requests for information.
- It issued 4 requests for international cooperation and received 29 requests from other regulators. The majority of the requests were for background checks as part of the authorization procedure or general requests for assistance.
- The MGA responded to the competent authorities' requests for information on the regulatory standing of its licensed operators with 31 official responses.
- It worked with local governing bodies and regulatory authorities on 110 information requests throughout the reporting period.
The MGA will release a full-year industry performance report in the second half of 2026 alongside its Annual Report for the financial year ending 31 December 2025.
If you require legal assistance with obtaining a license, we invite you to complete the inquiry form on our website.
Our team at Equilex will review your request, and one of our specialists will contact you within 24 hours to discuss the most suitable regulatory and licensing solutions.