EU regulatory standing
An MGA licence supports European market strategy and is immediately understood by regulated-market partners, suppliers and financial institutions.
LICENSING
Malta
An EU-regulated licence issued by the Malta Gaming Authority. It carries substantial weight with banks, payment providers and institutional partners: and demands a longer timeline, local substance and a higher compliance budget than offshore alternatives.
9-12 monthsEstimated timeline
5%Tax
€35,000*Estimated entry cost
B2B & B2CLicence scope
Fixed annual licence fee only (up to €35,000 by revenue). Ongoing MGA compliance contributions are charged monthly on gaming revenue and can materially exceed this fee as volumes grow, with 5% gaming tax where revenue comes from players physically in Malta.
Why Malta
Malta is the jurisdiction operators move to when European market access and Tier-1 credibility matter more than speed. The MGA process is thorough, the ongoing obligations are real, and the licence is widely treated as a reference standard by serious financial and commercial partners.
EU standing
A Malta licence supports European market strategy and is immediately understood by regulated-market partners.
Banking credibility
Often preferred by banks, PSPs and institutional counterparties assessing iGaming operators.
B2C and B2B routes
Separate consumer-facing and supply-side licence types under the same regulator.
What’s required
- Malta company and physical office
- Local director and key function holders
- Fit-and-proper reviews for owners and officers
- Business plan and financial projections
- AML, GDPR and player-protection policies
- Technical certifications and systems evidence
What you get
- MGA-regulated licence
- Strong EU market positioning
- High partner and banking recognition
- Clear B2C / B2B licence split
- Mature supervisory framework
- Long-term institutional credibility
Worth knowing
Malta is a commitment. Most operators only move here once revenue, markets and capital justify the substance and timeline.
Longer timeline
Applications commonly run close to a year. This is not a fast go-live jurisdiction.
Costs scale with revenue
The headline €35,000 figure is the fixed annual licence fee. Ongoing MGA compliance contributions are revenue-based and can materially exceed that fee as GGR grows.
Substance & tax
Local office, key functions and staffing sit on top: with 5% gaming tax where revenue comes from players physically in Malta.
OVERVIEW
Overview.
Malta is the jurisdiction operators move to when European market access and Tier-1 credibility matter more than speed. The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) licence is widely treated as a reference standard by banks, payment providers and institutional partners assessing iGaming operators.
The MGA process is thorough. Applications commonly run close to nine to twelve months. Local substance is substantial: Malta company, physical office, local director and key function holders, fit-and-proper reviews, business plan, financial projections, AML, GDPR and player-protection policies, plus technical certifications and systems evidence.
The headline €35,000 figure is the fixed annual licence fee by revenue band. Ongoing MGA compliance contributions are charged monthly on gaming revenue and can materially exceed this fee as volumes grow. A 5% gaming tax applies where revenue comes from players physically in Malta. Budget the full cost picture, not the licence fee alone.
Malta offers separate B2C and B2B licence routes under the same regulator. B2C covers consumer-facing operations. B2B covers platform supply, software, hosting and related services. Both carry the same substance expectations and supervisory standards.
Malta is a commitment, not a launch shortcut. Most operators only move here once revenue, markets and capital justify the substance, timeline and ongoing compliance budget.
BENEFITS
Benefits.
Tier-1 banking credibility
Malta is often preferred by banks, PSPs and institutional counterparties assessing iGaming operators for onboarding and credit facilities.
Mature supervisory framework
The MGA has deep experience across B2C and B2B models with clear expectations for compliance, reporting and ongoing supervision.
B2C and B2B licence split
Separate authorisation routes allow precise licensing of operator brands and supply-side businesses under one respected regulator.
LIMITATIONS
Limitations.
Long application timeline
Nine to twelve months is typical. This is not a fast go-live jurisdiction and should not be chosen when speed is the primary driver.
Costs scale with revenue
Compliance contributions grow with GGR and can exceed the fixed licence fee significantly. Financial modelling must include revenue-based charges.
High substance requirements
Local office, key functions, directors and operational staff on Malta are mandatory. Remote-only management is not viable.
Does not replace all EU market access
An MGA licence supports EU positioning but does not automatically authorise operations in every EU member state with local licensing requirements.
FIT
Who should choose this licence.
- Operators with established revenue targeting European markets and institutional banking relationships
- B2B platform and software suppliers whose clients require MGA-regulated supply-side credentials
- Groups with capital to sustain nine to twelve months of application work and ongoing Malta substance
- Businesses graduating from offshore licences and needing EU credibility for the next growth phase
- Operators where banking, PSP and affiliate relationships explicitly reference MGA or EU-regulated status
NOT A FIT
Who should not.
- Pre-revenue startups needing a licence within weeks or months
- Operators with limited budget who cannot sustain substance, compliance contributions and professional fees
- Businesses targeting only offshore or grey markets where Malta cost adds no commercial value
- Groups unwilling to maintain local office, key functions and staffing on Malta
- Operators expecting a single licence to unlock every EU member state without further local authorisation
PROCESS
Application process.
Pre-application assessment
We review business model, ownership, financials, markets and licence type (B2C or B2B) against MGA requirements and map the full workstream.
Malta corporate setup and substance
We coordinate company formation, physical office, local director and key function appointments, and the corporate records required for fit-and-proper review.
Compliance and technical preparation
We prepare business plan, financial projections, AML, GDPR, player protection and operational policies, plus technical certifications and systems evidence.
MGA application and fit-and-proper review
The application is submitted to the MGA. We manage ownership and key-person diligence, regulator queries and any conditional approvals.
Licence issue and operational commencement
On approval, we support licence activation, compliance framework implementation, banking preparation and the ongoing reporting calendar.
TIMELINE
Timeline.
Malta applications typically run nine to twelve months from a complete submission. Fit-and-proper reviews for complex ownership structures extend timelines further.
Corporate setup, office lease and key function recruitment should begin months before application submission. These workstreams often determine the critical path.
Technical certification and systems evidence can run in parallel but must be complete before the MGA will issue a licence for live operations.
BANKING
Banking.
Malta offers the strongest banking and PSP positioning in the offshore and EU iGaming space. Banks understand MGA-licensed operators and have established onboarding frameworks.
That advantage does not remove diligence. Ownership transparency, AML controls, source of funds and commercial history remain decisive for account opening.
We sequence banking introductions around licence progress. Some providers engage during application; others require the licence before onboarding begins.
TAXATION
Taxation.
A 5% gaming tax applies where revenue comes from players physically located in Malta. Most operators with international player bases see limited Malta-source GGR, but the rate must be modelled.
The fixed annual licence fee reaches up to €35,000 by revenue band. Monthly compliance contributions on gaming revenue can materially exceed this as GGR grows.
Corporate tax, employment costs and VAT on Malta substance add further to the total cost base. Take full tax and accounting advice before committing.
COMPLIANCE
Compliance.
The MGA expects a live compliance framework: MLRO, AML monitoring, responsible gaming tools, GDPR processes, complaints handling and audit readiness.
Key function holders must be genuinely operational, not nominal appointments. The MGA reviews substance during application and ongoing supervision.
Material changes to ownership, systems, key personnel or commercial activity require MGA notification or approval. Annual audits and reporting are mandatory.
PROFILE
Typical operator profile.
A typical Malta applicant is a scaling operator or B2B supplier with established revenue, European market strategy and institutional ambitions for banking and partnerships.
Ownership structures are usually transparent with verifiable source of funds. Complex or opaque UBO chains create delays in fit-and-proper review.
Teams expect to invest in Malta substance for the long term, not as a temporary staging post before moving elsewhere.
COMPARE
Compare with similar jurisdictions.
Malta is the EU-tier choice against Curaçao and the Isle of Man. It costs more and takes longer than both but delivers the strongest European credibility. Lithuania offers EU corporate and payments support without being an iGaming licence route.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Applications commonly run nine to twelve months. Complex ownership or incomplete technical evidence extends the timeline.
The fixed annual licence fee is up to €35,000 by revenue band. Compliance contributions on GGR and Malta substance costs can materially exceed this figure.
5% applies on revenue from players physically in Malta. International player revenue is typically taxed differently depending on structure and market.
Yes. Malta company, physical office, local director and key function holders are mandatory. This is a high-substance jurisdiction.
No. An MGA licence provides EU regulatory standing but does not replace local licensing in member states with their own authorisation requirements.
Consumer-facing brands need a B2C licence. Platform, software and supply-side businesses need a B2B licence. The MGA maintains separate routes for each.