In 2025, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) imposed a total of 30 administrative fines amounting to €162,520, marking a nearly 50% decrease from the €306,250 in penalties recorded in 2024, as highlighted in its latest annual report.
Additionally, the MGA noted a drop in enforcement actions, issuing 22 warnings compared to 35 the previous year, with license revocations decreasing sharply from eight to just two. In contrast, the number of license applications surged from 28 to 38, resulting in 19 new licenses being granted and eight renewals out of ten submitted applications.
Charles Mizzi, the CEO of the MGA, emphasized the need for regulators to focus on improving their methods rather than increasing regulations. He stated, "The challenge facing regulators today is not to regulate more, but to regulate better. 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."
Type 1 online casino games accounted for 78.9% of the total B2C online gaming revenues in 2025, increasing by nine percentage points from the previous year. Meanwhile, sports betting (Type 2) made up 14.5% of revenues, down from 25.6% in 2024, a decrease the MGA attributed to modifications in international licensing frameworks and regulations. Revenue from Type 3 pool betting saw growth, rising to 6.6%, compared to 4.6% the year before.
During the reporting period, the MGA received 280 reports of suspicious betting activities from its licensees and issued 192 betting alerts following investigations. The Authority conducted 15 full compliance audits and responded to 3,718 requests for assistance, while also analyzing 109 gaming sites and identifying 42 that falsely represented the MGA or its licensees.
In terms of the land-based gaming sector, the MGA carried out a total of 7,903 inspections across all casinos, Bingo Clubs, Lottery Points, and other gaming venues. It granted 2,043 permits for non-profit tombola events, 22 permits for non-profit lotteries, and 118 certificates for organizing commercial communication games.
