Malta Gaming Authority License
Secure a highly respected EU gaming licence with end-to-end support from application planning to launch and ongoing compliance. GamingLicensing coordinates the legal, corporate, technical, and operational requirements for obtaining a Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) licence, helping B2C operators and B2B suppliers reduce delays, manage regulatory requirements, and build a compliant structure around their actual business model.
Malta is one of Europe’s most established jurisdictions for regulated online gambling and was the first EU country to introduce a comprehensive framework specifically for remote gaming. Today, the Malta Gaming Authority regulates both B2C gaming operators and B2B suppliers under the Gaming Act and its supporting regulations.
GamingLicensing supports companies throughout the full MGA licensing process — from selecting the appropriate licence and establishing the corporate structure to preparing the application, policies, technical documentation, key-function framework, and compliance procedures required for regulatory approval.
B2C Gaming Service Licence
- Type 1:
Casino Games
(all casino games, including live casino games, virtual sports, lotteries, and secondary lotteries)
- Type 2:
Fixed-Odds Betting
(including sportsbook and live betting, where the operator manages the risk based on the odds offered to players)
- Type 3:
Peer-to-Peer Games
(where the operator is not exposed to gaming risk and generates revenue through commissions or other charges; includes poker, bingo, betting exchanges, and other commission-based games)
- Type 4:
Controlled Skill Games
(whose outcome is determined predominantly by the player’s knowledge or skill rather than chance)
Advantages of Malta iGaming License
A license from the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is one of the most established and widely recognised authorisations in the European iGaming industry. Malta combines an EU-based regulatory environment with a mature gaming ecosystem, clear compliance standards, and strong recognition among banks, payment providers, software suppliers, and other B2B partners.
The key benefits of obtaining an MGA licence:
(01)Established EU Regulation
Malta offers a mature and well-developed regulatory framework for online gambling. MGA licensees operate under clearly defined requirements covering governance, player protection, responsible gaming, technical standards, reporting, and ongoing compliance.
(02)Competitive Gaming Tax Framework/h3>
A 5% gaming tax applies to qualifying gaming revenue generated from players located in Malta. This is separate from annual licence fees and, for B2C operators, the applicable compliance contribution based on gaming revenue.
(03)Strong Banking & Payment Recognition
The MGA licence can strengthen an operator’s position when approaching banks, payment institutions, PSPs, and other financial partners. Approval is not automatic and remains subject to each institution’s risk appetite, due diligence requirements, target markets, and business model.
(04)Modern & Technology-Neutral Framework
Malta’s regulatory framework is designed to accommodate evolving gaming technologies and business models. This provides operators and suppliers with a more predictable environment for developing new products, payment solutions, and gaming services.
(05)Strong AML/CFT Standarts
MGA-licensed businesses operate within Malta’s EU-aligned AML/CFT framework and must maintain appropriate risk assessments, customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, record-keeping, reporting, and internal compliance procedures.
MGA License Requirements
Obtaining a Malta Gaming Authority licence requires applicants to demonstrate that their ownership structure, management, financial resources, technical systems, and compliance framework meet MGA standards. The regulator also assesses the suitability of shareholders, UBOs, directors, and key persons involved in the gaming operation.
GamingLicensing helps applicants prepare and coordinate the corporate, financial, technical, and compliance documentation required throughout the licensing process. Key MGA licence requirements include:
Detailed Business Plan
business model, target markets, products, revenue projections, organisational structure and operational strategy
Corporate & Ownership Documentation
company documents, ownership structure, UBO information and supporting corporate records
Fit & Proper Documentation
information and documentation for shareholders, directors, UBOs and relevant key persons
Operational Policies & Procedures
internal controls, governance, operational processes and regulatory procedures
AML/CFT & Player Onboarding Procedures
risk assessment, KYC/CDD, transaction monitoring, reporting and player verification
Responsible Gaming & Player Protection
responsible gambling controls, player limits, self-exclusion, complaints and protection of player funds
Technical & Gaming System Documentation
system architecture, gaming platform specifications, hosting, integrations and other critical technical components
Information Security & Business Continuity
security controls, access management, incident handling, backups, disaster recovery and continuity procedures
Terms & Conditions and Player-Facing Policies
gaming terms, privacy-related documentation and other required player-facing rules
Agreements with Key Business Partners
contracts with platform providers, game suppliers, payment providers and other material outsourcing partners, sports betting — where applicable
Financial Information & Source of Funds
financial forecasts, funding structure and evidence demonstrating sufficient resources to operate the business.
Malta Online Gambling Licence Cost
The total cost of a Malta Gaming Authority license consists of several regulatory fees. For a standard B2C Gaming Service Licence, applicants should consider the application fee, fixed annual licence fee, and an annual Compliance Contribution calculated according to the type of gaming services offered and the gaming revenue generated.
B2C Licence Fees
- Application Fee: €5,000 — one-time and non-refundable
- Annual Licence Fee: €25,000 per year.
- Type 4 Only Annual Licence Fee: €10,000 per year for operators offering solely Type 4 gaming services.
- Compliance Contribution: calculated based on gaming revenue, subject to minimum and maximum annual amounts depending on the approved game type.
- Annual Compliance Contribution
- Type 1 — Casino & RNG Games (Minimum €15,000; Maximum €375,000);
- Type 2 — Fixed-Odds Betting (Minimum €25,000; Maximum €600,000);
- Type 3 — Peer-to-Peer & Commission-Based Games (Minimum €25,000; Maximum €500,000);
- Type 4 — Controlled Skill Games (Minimum €15,000; Maximum €500,000);
The Compliance Contribution is separate from the fixed annual licence fee and is calculated according to the operator’s gaming revenue and the applicable game type.
Additional costs may apply for company formation, key functions, compliance, legal documentation, technical audits, system certification, accounting, and other professional services required to establish and maintain an MGA-licensed operation.
How to Apply for a Malta Gaming License
The MGA licence application process starts with an assessment of your business model, corporate structure, gaming activities, target markets, and technical setup. GamingLicensing coordinates the process from initial preparation through application, regulatory review, technical assessment, and launch, helping you address MGA requirements at each stage.
The application process typically includes the following steps:
Malta iGaming License Types
| Feature | B2C License | B2B License |
|---|---|---|
| Target | Operators providing gaming services directly to players | Suppliers providing critical gaming services or critical gaming supplies to licensed operators |
| Activities | Types 1–4: casino/RNG games, fixed-odds betting, peer-to-peer and commission-based games, and controlled skill games | Supply and management of material elements of a game, gaming software and other critical components of a gaming system |
| AML/KYC Obligations | Full player-facing AML/CFT obligations where applicable, including customer due diligence, transaction monitoring and suspicious transaction reporting | AML/CFT obligations depend on the activities and regulatory role of the supplier; B2B licensing does not normally involve player-facing KYC in the same way as a B2C operator |
| Financial Reserves | Minimum issued and paid-up share capital of €100,000 for Type 1, €100,000 for Type 2, €40,000 for Type 3, and €40,000 for Type 4; requirements are cumulative when multiple types are offered, capped at €240,000 | Minimum issued and paid-up share capital of €40,000 |
| Technical Compliance | Gaming systems and relevant components are subject to applicable technical, system audit and certification requirements | Critical gaming supplies and relevant technical components are subject to applicable MGA technical and audit requirements |
| Reporting | Regulatory and financial reporting, applicable gaming tax and Compliance Contribution reporting, and other licence-specific submissions | Regulatory and financial reporting, and applicable B2B licence-fee/revenue reporting |
MGA Gambling Licence Renewal
Renewal Requirements & Costs
Licensees must pay the applicable annual licence fees and compliance contributions, submit required regulatory and financial reports, keep relevant corporate and key-function information up to date, and continue to comply with applicable player protection, financial, technical, and regulatory obligations.
The €5,000 application fee is a one-time, non-refundable fee payable when submitting a new gaming licence application and is not an annual charge.
The main annual licence fees are:
B2C Gaming Service Licence: €25,000 per year.
B2C providing solely Type 4 gaming services: €10,000 per year.
B2B Critical Gaming Supply Licence: €25,000 where annual revenue does not exceed €5 million;
€30,000 where annual revenue exceeds €5 million but does not exceed €10 million;
and €35,000 where annual revenue exceeds €10 million.B2B Back Office Licence: €3,000 where annual revenue does not exceed €1 million and €5,000 where annual revenue exceeds €1 million.
For B2C operators, the Compliance Contribution is payable separately and is calculated according to the applicable game type and gaming revenue. The fixed annual licence fee is payable in advance for the twelve months following the issue of the licence and on every anniversary throughout the duration of the licence.
What Happens If You Don’t Renew?
Failure to pay licence fees, compliance contributions, or meet applicable regulatory and reporting obligations may result in enforcement action by the Malta Gaming Authority, including suspension or cancellation of the authorisation.
Where an authorisation is cancelled, the MGA may require the operator to cease gaming operations, stop registering new players or accepting deposits, settle outstanding player balances, remove references to the MGA and its authorisation, and comply with any additional directions issued by the Authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get an MGA
gaming license?The duration depends on the completeness and complexity of the application, the applicant’s ownership
and funding structure, regulatory due diligence, business model, and technical setup. Incomplete
applications or additional information requests from the MGA can extend the process.The MGA first checks whether the application is complete and may request additional information or
amendments during its review. An incomplete application is given a one-time 60-day period to be
completed; otherwise, it may be rejected and closed.Do I need a local company?
No. You do not need to incorporate a company specifically in Malta to apply for the MGA licence. The
applicant must be an entity established in the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA)
and must meet the applicable share capital, financial reporting, and other licensing requirements of
the Malta Gaming Authority.How much does a Malta iGaming license
cost?The MGA charges a one-time, non-refundable application fee of €5,000. A standard B2C Gaming Service
Licence carries a fixed annual licence fee of €25,000, reduced to €10,000 for operators providing
solely Type 4 gaming services. B2B Critical Gaming Supply Licence fees range from €25,000 to €35,000
per year, depending on annual revenue, while B2B Back-Office Licence fees are €3,000 or €5,000 per
year, depending on revenue.Is there a minimum share capital
requirement?Yes. MGA licence applicants must meet minimum issued and paid-up share capital requirements. For a
B2C Gaming Service Licence, the minimum is €100,000 for Type 1, €100,000 for Type 2, €40,000 for
Type 3, and €40,000 for Type 4. A B2B Critical Gaming Supply Licence requires a minimum of €40,000.If multiple B2C game types are approved, the capital requirements are cumulative, subject to a
maximum cap of €240,000. The required minimum capital must be maintained throughout the duration of
the licence.What activities does a gaming licence
cover?The MGA B2C Gaming Service Licence can cover one or more approved game types: Type 1 casino games,
live casino, lotteries and secondary lotteries; Type 2 fixed-odds betting, including live betting;
Type 3 pool betting, betting exchanges, peer-to-peer poker, bingo and other commission-based games;
and Type 4 controlled skill games. Multiple game types may be approved under the same B2C
licence.A B2B Critical Gaming Supply Licence covers the supply and management of critical elements of a game
or gaming system, including certain software and systems used to generate, capture, control or
process essential regulatory records.Which countries can I operate into?
The MGA licence does not provide automatic access to every EU or international market. Operators may
offer their services in jurisdictions where remote gambling under an overseas licence is permitted,
but they must comply with the laws and licensing requirements of each country they target. Many
regulated markets require a separate local gambling licence, so market access should be assessed on
a country-by-country basis before accepting players.Are crypto payments allowed?
Yes. MGA-licensed operators may accept approved crypto assets as a payment method, subject to the
Malta Gaming Authority’s DLT framework and prior regulatory approval. Applicants can request
approval as part of a new licence application, while existing licensees can apply to add DLT assets
as an approved payment method. Operators must also comply with applicable AML/CFT, player
verification, wallet-control, and other regulatory requirements.Can I transfer a gaming license?
Yes. The MGA gaming licence may be transferred, subject to the prior approval of the Malta Gaming
Authority. The licensee must submit a Licence Transfer application through the Licensee Portal,
together with the current and proposed corporate structures, the Sale and Purchase Agreement or
Licence Transfer Agreement, and the required corporate and due diligence documentation. The MGA
administrative fee for a licence transfer is €1,500.The MGA reviews the proposed ownership and control structure and the suitability of the parties
involved before approving the transfer. A change in ownership or control should therefore not be
treated as an automatic transfer of the licence.What happens if my application is
rejected?If the MGA licence application is rejected, the applicant will not receive the gaming licence and may
need to submit a new application after addressing the issues that led to the refusal. Incomplete
applications are given a one-time 60-day period to provide the missing information; if the
application is not resubmitted in full within that period, it is rejected and closed.Where the MGA issues a formal adverse decision, the applicant may appeal to the Administrative Review
Tribunal within 20 days from the date the decision is served, in accordance with Article 43 of the
Gaming Act.
Why Choose GamingLicensing
GamingLicensing combines regulatory, corporate, technical, and operational support
in one process. We help you choose between a B2C and B2B Malta online gambling license, map target
countries, prepare the application package, coordinate key-person and ownership checks, review AML/KYC
and responsible-gaming policies, and manage communication with auditors and the MGA.
Our work continues after approval. We support reporting calendars, licence-fee
planning, material-change filings, renewals, and market-expansion reviews so your Malta iGaming licence
remains aligned with your actual products and operating model. You receive a clear scope, realistic cost
breakdown, and a single point of contact from initial assessment to ongoing compliance.
Licensing Solution
within 24 hours.