Malta Gaming Authority Annual Report shows continued growth in B2B gaming licences
B2B gaming licences accounted for the majority of those approved, while revenue growth shows continued importance for Malta’s economy.
Malta.- The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has released its Annual Report and audited Financial Statements for the year ending December 31 2025. The report outlines emerging trends and expected regulatory shifts while detailing the performance of Malta’s land-based and online gaming sectors, regulatory activities and enforcement measures.
The reports emphasise the continued importance of the sector for Malta’s economy, with the gaming industry generating 6.3 per cent of Malta’s GDP. The sector’s Gross Value Added (GVA) totalled €1.42bn, a rise of 3.5 per cent year-on-year. When factoring in multiplier effects, it’s estimated that the sector accounted for 8.2 per cent of Malta’s economy.
MGA licensing and authorisations
Between January and December 2025, the MGA received 38 applications for new gaming licences and approved 19. Two were rejected on the grounds of false or misleading submissions. A further 10 renewal applications were submitted, with eight renewals granted.
B2B licences accounted for 24 of the applications received and 12 of the licences issued, confirming the trend towards growth in B2B over B2C in Malta’s igaming sector.
Oversight of low-risk gaming activities saw the issuance of 2,043 permits for non-profit tombola, 22 permits for non-profit lottery, and 118 certificates for commercial communication games. The Authority also conducted 1,266 due diligence checks and escalated complex cases to the Fit and Proper Committee, which ruled seven entities or individuals unfit.
Regulatory oversight and Enforcement
The MGA issued 35 cease and desist letters in 2025, along with 22 warnings and 30 administrative penalties amounting to €162,520. One licence was suspended and two were cancelled.
Compliance efforts included 15 full-scope audits, 109 thematic reviews, and 21 AML/CFT examinations, with remediation measures and penalties imposed by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) totalling just under €26,500.
MGA CEO Charles Mizzi emphasised the regulator’s evolving approach: “The challenge facing regulators today is not to regulate more, but to regulate better,” he said, noting that the authority intends to “pivot towards smarter AI-led regulation of gambling licences (B2C and B2B)”.
He added: “Throughout 2025, we refined the way we regulate – strengthening our risk-based approach to oversight, improving engagement, streamlining processes, and making better use of data and technology to focus our efforts where they matter most. That is how we strengthen confidence in the Maltese licence, safeguard players, and support the long-term sustainability of Malta’s gaming sector.”
Player protection and compliance
In terms of player protection, the MGA reported 3,718 requests for assistance resolved and 1,757 player funds reports reviewed. The MGA investigated 109 URLs, identifying 42 fraudulent references to the MGA or its licensees. The Commercial Communications Committee issued six decisions on breaches of advertising regulations.
The Authority also conducted 7,903 inspections across casinos, bingo halls, lottery outlets, and non-profit tombola venues.
The MGA received 280 suspicious betting reports and shared 192 alerts with licensees, participating in 66 global investigations. Collaboration extended to 56 requests for information with enforcement agencies and sports bodies, 85 data exchanges, and 66 requests for international cooperation from other regulators. Locally, it handled 200 requests for information from domestic bodies.
