MGA review casts light on “wide differences” in Maltese sports betting sector
Maltese football was found to attract a modest level of international betting interest.
Malta.- The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has published its findings from a thematic review examining betting activity on Maltese football competitions.
Announced in the Regulatory Oversight Supervisory Engagement Efforts for 2025, the review analyses data submitted by B2C Type 2 licensees covering the 2023–2024 football season and explores wagering trends, player demographics and the integrity measures in place across the market.
The findings show that betting on Maltese football remains moderate in size, with most activity centred on mainstream markets such as match winner and total goals. Participation by Maltese bettors is limited and primarily involves young men living in urban areas, the regulator said. Maltese football also attracts a modest level of international betting interest, though volumes remain small compared to larger competitions.
Total stakes vary significantly across the market, from under €50 for the smallest declared volumes to amounts exceeding €800,000 for the highest reported levels. The regulator noted that this reflects the wide differences in the reach of each licensee’s customer base and the level of player activity targeting these competitions. No submissions were found where zero stakes were reported alongside positive gaming revenue, suggesting that, at a broad level, the data aligns with the expected flow of funds.
However, there were several cases where total winnings paid out exceeded the total stakes. Some licensees reported negative gaming revenue figures, implying they operated at a loss within the Maltese football betting segment during the period under review. In one instance, a licensee reported stakes of less than €50 and declared payouts close to €900, implying a payout ratio above 450 per cent.
This was seen as an isolated case, but the MGA noted that repeated patterns might possibly lead licensees to stop offering Maltese football competitions. Given the fluctuations observed, it said the data highlights the importance of continued monitoring by licensees to support market transparency and uphold integrity standards.
The review also notes that licensees have implemented integrity safeguards, including the monitoring of suspicious activity and collaboration with both the MGA and sports governing bodies.
The regulator said it will continue to refine its supervisory tools and deepen engagement with licensees to ensure that betting on Maltese football remains fair, transparent, and resilient to emerging risks.
Warning over unlicensed websites
Meanwhile, the MGA has warned that several websites are falsely claiming they hold Maltese gaming licences. The MGA has denied any connection with pangagames.com, casino1bet.online, palmsbet1.com, flexiblesport.com and casino-europa.eu. It also denied links with a domain operating under the Memo Casino brand.
The regulator said that any reference to the MGA or licences issued by the MGA on these websites is “false and misleading”.
“The activities of unlicensed entities are unregulated and do not provide the necessary safeguards delineated by virtue of the framework, making transactions with such entities risky for consumers,” it warned.
Advocate General Anthony Michael Emiliou of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) recently issued an opinion on Malta’s contentious Article 56A casting doubt on its protective scope for igaming operators. Emiliou, whose role is to provide unbiased legal opinions on cases, has suggested that the amendment could expose gambling operators to greater vulnerability regarding cross-border asset freezing in the European Union (EU).
The Advocate General observed that Maltese legislation could arguably heighten the likelihood of operators either dissipating their assets or failing to comply with freezing orders. This, he noted, could lead to increased scrutiny of operator-held assets located outside Malta. This could be particularly pertinent in the context of ongoing litigation related to player losses.
