In 2025, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) enforced 30 administrative sanctions totaling €162,520, marking a significant reduction of nearly 50% from the €306,250 in fines levied in 2024, according to the latest annual report.
The MGA also saw a decline in enforcement actions, issuing 22 warnings compared to 35 the previous year, while license revocations decreased from eight to two. Conversely, license applications increased from 28 to 38, with the MGA issuing 19 new licenses and eight renewals from ten applications.
Charles Mizzi, the CEO of MGA, 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 comprised 78.9% of B2C online gaming revenues in 2025, an increase of nine percentage points from the previous year. Sports betting (Type 2) contributed 14.5%, down from 25.6% in 2024, a change the MGA attributed to shifts in international licensing frameworks and regulations. Revenue from Type 3 pool betting rose to 6.6%, up from 4.6%.
During the reporting period, the MGA received 280 suspicious betting communications from its licensees and responded with 192 betting alerts following investigations. The Authority conducted 15 complete compliance audits, addressed 3,718 requests for assistance, and analyzed 109 websites, identifying 42 that falsely represented the MGA or its licensees.
In the land-based sector, the MGA carried out 7,903 inspections across casinos, bingo clubs, lottery points, and other gaming venues. Additionally, it issued 2,043 non-profit tombola permits, 22 non-profit lottery permits, and 118 certificates for the organization of commercial communication games.
