Guide to Online Gambling Sites in Malta for 2024

The Top Maltese Online Gambling Sites

Malta is a world leader in online gaming, with roughly 10 per cent of the world’s iGaming operators based in the country. This means that Maltese players can enjoy the very best legal online gambling sites on the market. With this expert guide to Maltese online gaming, we’ve recommended the most renowned, high-quality gaming sites for you to try out.

So without further adieu, here are the best online gambling sites in Malta for 2021:

Scott Bowen, Editor at online-gambling.com

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Scott Bowen has been a casino expert and editor at online-gambling.com for a few years. He has professional experience in many gambling products, including roulette and blackjack, video poker, and sports betting.

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Types of Available Gambling Activities in Malta

There are few countries in the world that have such comprehensive and open laws when it comes to gambling regulation as Malta does. According to Malta’s laws, it is legal for players to gamble at all locally licensed operators, whether they be land-based or online operators.. Legal games include slots and table games, poker, sports betting, horse racing, bingo, the lottery, and daily fantasy sports.

The Maltese Online Casino Market

One of the cornerstones to Malta’s online gambling industry is online casino gambling. The Malta Gaming Authority has no limits to how many online casinos can earn licenses in the country, which has attracted the biggest operators and software companies to set up shop in the country. For this reason, it is often the first market to license the latest online slots, roulette, blackjack, video poker, bingo and baccarat games. Malta’s online casinos offer a huge range of options that have been verified to be fair, and its competitive market ensures that only the best sites rise to the top. Below, we’ve listed the best online casino that is licensed in Malta.

Sports Betting Sites

Similarly to the online casino market, sports betting is big business in Malta. There are dozens of reputable licensed sportsbook operators that are based in Malta, meaning locals have access to the very best in online sports betting the world has to offer. If there is a new sportsbook feature released, you can be sure that Malta will be the first to have it. As with most European countries, football is extremely popular in Malta and it frequently dominates all other sports betting markets in terms of revenues. That being said, Maltese sites also offer plenty of other international sports markets, including the up-and-coming eSports market. For the best betting options, odds, promotions and features, sign up to our top Malta sportsbook below.

Daily Fantasy Sports Options

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) often gets overlooked by gaming regulators, and the activities are usually left in a legal gray zone. This isn’t the case in Malta. Not only are DFS games officially legal, but players can sign up to DFS sites that are hosted right at home. This means that players can compete in the most thrilling tournaments on the highest-quality betting platforms. Football DFS competitions tend to be the most popular, and we would highly recommend trying the games out during the World Cup for constant excitement. So test out your sporting knowledge and develop your skills as a DFS champion through our top Maltese DFS site below.

Online Poker

Malta’s gaming laws have a huge influence on the online poker industry, so players wanting to get involved with online poker really couldn’t be located in a better country. The biggest and best online poker sites in the world have headquarters in Malta, meaning the country essentially hosts a significant volume of all online poker games. Whether you want to play at single cash games and tournaments, you can go head-to-head against players around the world any time you want. This means that Stud, Omaha, and even No Limit Hold’em games with huge prize pools are at your disposal, so why not try the very best and check out our recommended Malta poker site below?

Online Lottery

The only gambling activity that has a limit on how many licenses can be awarded in Malta is the land-based lottery, which is currently limited to the National Lottery Authority. That being said, players are still able to enjoy lottery options at locally-licensed non-government retailers if they are based online. These sites allow Maltese players to buy tickets for international lotteries such as the US Mega Millions, Powerball, and even lotteries in Australia. You can even play games like bingo and digital scratch cards. Our recommended lottery site isn’t just the best lotto site in Malta — it’s the best online lotto site in the world!

Guide to Choosing the Best Maltese Gambling Sites

Due to Malta’s strict gaming regulations, players have a wealth of extremely high-quality, fair gaming sites to choose from. That being said, it’s our opinion that if you’re going to sign-up at a gambling site, you may as well make it the best on the market. But how can you tell what the best site is? In this upcoming guide, we’ve explained the factors that we have considered to come up with our recommendations. We’ve considered everything from the security, games selections, bonuses and software among other topics. By reading, you can learn valuable skills on how you can spot a top website for yourself.

Licencing and Website Safety in Malta

It is against Maltese law for operators to offer gambling activities to local players without first being granted a licence by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). This is not only to ensure that operators are paying gaming taxes to help the local economy but to ensure that Maltese players are fully protected against untrustworthy scam sites. The MGA requires all license holders to secure certification from independent testing labs that verify games have not been rigged and meet fairness standards. It also requires that websites use encryption technology to protect players from hackers and that they do not take advantage of vulnerable players. You can find details for some responsible gambling organizations operating on Maltese sites below.

How to Spot a Great Gaming and Betting Products

For most players, the primary reason to sign up to a gambling site is the games and products that are offered. This is why you should always check the product offerings before you claim a welcome bonus, or you run the risk of making a deposit at a site you won’t enjoy. There are several things to look out for depending on which activity you want to play online. For example, at online casinos, check to see that there is a wide selection of slots and table games from industry-leading software providers. If sports betting is your primary interest, make sure that the site offers competitive odds and numerous sports markets that appeal to you. You can find these product-checking tips along with many others in the table below.

Most Popular Real Money Online Casino Games

There are boundless gambling options to choose from at Malta’s best gaming sites, and thanks to Maltese regulations, you can be sure that games will always offer fair return-to-player (RTP) rates. Popular casino games in Malta include video slots and table games such as roulette, blackjack, video poker and roulette. Slots are particularly popular as they come in endless different variations. Table games are great as they offer higher RTPs than slots, and live casino games are ideal for those wanting the most authentic casino experience at home. You can see the average payout rates of popular casino games below.

Best Welcome Bonuses for Maltese Gambling Sites

On your search for a new online gambling site, you’re bound to come across plenty of welcome offers tempting to lure you in. Online casinos will usually offer extra funds with your first deposits and free spins to popular slots. Sportsbooks also usually offer bonus funds or free first-time bets. While these may look too good to be true at first, taking a look at the terms and conditions will show you the real value of bonuses. In particular, check the wagering requirements and validity to find out the chances of turning bonuses into real money. Below, we’ve listed the best Maltese bonus offer for each type of gambling site along with their terms.

Average Payout Rates and Fairness

There’s no reason to gamble at an unfair gambling site if you can avoid it, and the best way to avoid it is by checking its average payout rate. A website’s average payout rate is the average RTP of all the gambling products that it offers. The higher this figure, the more fair a site is. These figures are supplied and verified by independent testing agencies such as eCOGRA that use accurate and reliable methods to ensure games haven’t been rigged. You can find some of the verified payout rates of Malta’s top gambling sites below.

Available Payment Methods

As a market leader for iGaming, Malta’s licensed websites work closely with the biggest and most respected financial institutions to ensure players can enjoy fast, secure transactions. The best gambling sites will facilitate payments from well-known payment providers such as VISA and Mastercard among others as 40 per cent of Maltese gamblers use credit cards to gamble. However As different payment types have different characteristics such as varying transaction times and fee systems, it’s also good to have options for e-Wallets, bank transfers and Bitcoin. You can find some of the most common and reliable payment methods accepted at Maltese gambling sites below.

1. e-Wallets:
   1. PayPal
   2. Neteller
   3. ecoPayz
   4. Skrill
2. Credit/Debit Cards:
   1. Mastercard
   2. VISA
   3. Maestro
3. Bank Transfers:
   1. Instant Banking
   2. Bank Transfer
   3. Wire Transfer
4. Other:
   1. Bitcoin
   2. Paysafecard
   3. ApplePay
   4. Google Pay
   5. Trustly

Mobile Gambling Apps

In recent years, online gambling sites have focused on refining their mobile platforms to be just as good as, if not better than, their desktop versions. Now, it’s common for apps to offer full games and gambling products catalogues rather than the limited offerings they used to offer. With that considered, it’s important to look at other factors that indicate the best-quality mobile apps. For one, the best sites must be compatible on iOS and Android devices to cater to the largest market. They must also be easy-to-navigate, intuitive, stable and fast. Below, you can find details for our recommended Maltese gambling site mobile apps that tick all these boxes and more.

The Importance of High-Quality Gambling Software

Behind the best games and gambling products are highly-experienced, reputable software developers, many of which call Malta home. If you want to guarantee that you’ll always be able to play fair, fun, unique games then take the time to check the software that is stocked in a games catalogue. Ideally, you’ll want to see several major providers such as Microgaming, Playtech, and NetEnt. For sportsbooks, DFS, and poker sites, the software that was used to build the platform will play a major role in how easy the site is to navigate, not to mention how buggy it is. Don’t be fooled by an unreliable site — gamble with sites offering the top software providers below.

Malta’s Gambling Laws & Regulations

Over the last three decades, Malta’s laws have addressed gambling in a way unlike most other countries. It was one of the first countries in Europe to create online gambling laws, and since then it has become a world capital for the iGaming industry. The main piece of legislation that regulates gaming in Malta is the Gaming Act of 2018, which introduced a broad overhaul of previous gaming regulations to consolidate them into one Act. It’s open and pragmatic approach to gambling operator licensing has made it an attractive base for the world’s gambling operators. In this section, we’ve discussed topics related to Malta gambling law and culture.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Malta?

Online gambling in Malta has been legal since 2002. Malta’s gambling laws about what constitutes legal online gambling, and lists online slots, table games, bingo, poker, horse race betting, and daily fantasy sports as regulated markets. As long as gamblers bet with licensed gaming operators, they are not breaking the law.

Land-Based Maltese Gambling

Maltese players have plenty of physical sports betting retailers and land-based casino options to choose from. One of the largest physical brands it the national lottery retailer Maltco, which also accepts sports bets through its U*Bet subsidiary brand. There are more than 200 Maltco retailers spread throughout the country, so bettors are never far from an outlet. Casino gamblers are also able to enjoy gambling at one of the country’s four land-based casinos, hosting games such as poker, gaming machines, and table games. The biggest draw for Maltese gamblers though are slot machines, which can be regularly be found in restaurants and gaming arcades.

Official Gaming Regulator

Since its creation in 2001, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has been the sole regulator for the entire Maltese gambling industry. Through it’s clear, progressive approach to gambling matters, it has earned a reputation for being one of the world’s most respected gaming regulators. The MGA is responsible for everything from licensing and collecting taxes to setting responsible gaming standards. Rather than simply enforcing the provisions in the Gaming Act, the MGA also has the power to provide additional directives to the industry and update regulations as the market develops. This has allowed a great deal of flexibility for the MGA.

Is Online Gambling Taxed in Malta?

All licensed operators in Malta must pay a gaming tax of 5 per cent of gross gaming revenues generated from Maltese players. Additionally, Malta charges license holders regular fees depending on the kind of license it holds. These fees can range anywhere between €5,000 with a maximum cap of €500,000 or €600,000, depending on the licence held. The two licenses that the MGA are B2C (business-to-customer) and B2B (business-to-business) licenses. Additionally, Maltese players must pay a 5 per cent tax on their gambling winnings.

Legal Gambling Age

Malta’s laws are quite interesting when it comes to its gambling age laws. It specifies that no person shall offer a minor, which is defined as an 18-year-old, a gambling activity or employment in the gaming sector. Players must be over the age of 18 to gamble online at any gambling site, and the same age to play the land-based lottery or place sports bets. However, Maltese citizens must be over 25 years old to gamble at land-based casinos, while tourists can be 18 or over. This is quite an interesting distinction, though authorities have justified this on the grounds that it protects minors. This is despite the fact that online casino gambling is fine for verified 18-year-olds.

Advertising Restrictions

The MGA imposes strict restrictions on how advertising for gambling can be portrayed in marketing. License holders who breach these terms can face severe penalties, such as high fines and even imprisonment depending on the nature of the offence. Several of these provisions include that marketing can not:

Penalties for Illegal Gambling

There are several pieces of legislation that outline gambling offences depending on the nature of the crime in Malta. The Gambling Act covers transgressions such as offering gambling without a license, obstructing gambling regulators, and offering gambling to minors. Other legislation covers more financial-related matters such as money laundering and tax evasions. In any case, the MGA takes these offences extremely seriously and issues a varying scale of penalties based on the offence. Below, we’ve listed some common gambling-related crimes and their penalties.

Announced Regulation Changes

Due to Malta’s powers of enacting new policies as problems arise, the MGA does not need to go through too much governmental red-tape to pass new regulations on provisions. For this reason, there are constantly new adjustments to the laws. One of the latest updates is that licensed business-to-customer operators must now report suspicious betting activity through a special MGA authority. The use of the Suspicious Betting Reporting Mechanism was made obligatory on 1 January 2021. This is set to ensure that the industry retains its integrity. Other changes are that the MGA is currently looking for a new CEO to report to its Board of Directors, which is bound to have major implications on the MGA’s future strategies.

Responsible Gambling Advocacy

Malta has been a pioneer of online gambling safety, and has created a number of provisions and restrictions that have had huge, positive ramifications for responsible gambling advocacy. Licensees are required to follow these restrictions perfectly or risk large fines and losses of licenses. Common provisions revolve around enforcing age and marketing restrictions and including self-limits and self-exclusion mechanisms. In 2014, the MGA introduced the Responsible Gaming Foundation (RGF) to help study the effects of excessive gambling in Malta, while also offering support to problem gamblers and their families. You can find links to the RGF and more responsible gambling organizations available to Maltese players below.

Curious Facts About Malta’s Gambling Market

Online gambling is a huge part of Malta’s economy, and online gambling contributes a huge 12 per cent of the country’s GDP. Maltese citizens were estimated to have spent around €125 million in gaming services during 2015, which is around 2.8 per cent of total household consumption expenditure. However, while gambling is popular with locals, the market is much more dominated by the operations of international license-holders. Activity related to gambling is estimated to use around 50 per cent of Malta’s international internet bandwidth. There are more than 330 online operators licensed by the MGA.

History of Gambling in Malta

Malta has long spearheaded a more open approach to online gambling, and throughout multiple stages of the last century, the country’s governments have sought to legalize gambling. Initially, Malta established a number of lotteries to help raise funds for public and state programs. During the second part of the 20th century, illegal online gambling operations thrived across the island. It wasn’t until 1998 when the government established a concise framework for regulating the casino industry. Over the next five years, Malta quickly earned a reputation for being Europe’s gambling capital, and in 2004 it became the first EU state to address the legality of online gambling. After this, the gambling industry exploded in Malta, and it is now a multi-billion dollar industry that is instrumental to Malta’s economy.

Popular Land-Based Casinos

There are four land-based casinos in Malta. These vary greatly in style, theme, and exclusivity. The newest and largest of these casinos is the Casino Malta, which opened in 2015 and provides gamblers with the most state-of-the-art gambling facilities. Visitors can play more than 300 slot machines, table games, 29 poker tables and VIP tables. The Dragonara Casino is an exclusive gaming destination that appeals to more distinguished guests and is located in the Dragonara Palace. There are plenty of luxurious amenities at guests’ disposal at the facility, including some of Malta’s top-rated restaurants. The two other casinos include the Oracle Casino and Portomaso Casino, both of which offer comprehensive gambling opportunities.

Famous Poker Players from Malta

The last several years have seen a boom in interest in Malta’s poker scene, as the country continues to become a hub for international gambling events and tournaments. Malta’s land-based casinos and online poker sites offer the very best in poker products, helping to establish a rising Maltese poker scene. Some popular players include local Jackie Cachia, who became known as the “Poker Mama” after winning the Ladies Event at the European Poker Tournament in 2014.. The highest-earning Maltese poker player is Mark Berman, who has earned more than $250,000 through land-based and online gameplay.

The Pros and Cons: Online Gambling vs Land-Based Gambling

For those trying to decide whether they should gamble online or at land-based retailers in Malta, we must admit, you have plenty of great options for both. Malta’s world-leading regulations have meant that it is home to perhaps the most open, safe, modern, and fair online gambling market in the world. There are hundreds of licensed gambling sites at your disposal, meaning an endless supply of top games from award-winning software providers, state-of-the-art betting features, and generous welcome bonuses. Online gambling sites are also extremely convenient. However, Malta’s land-based casinos also stock some of the latest technology in land-based gambling in beautiful settings with incredible, buzzing atmospheres. Land-based sports betting is also readily available, with hundreds or retailers spread throughout the country.

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