Online gambling regulation in Malta

Prohibited. Gaming Commercial Communications Regulations (S.L. 583.09) and Commercial Communications Committee Guidelines prohibit advertising unauthorised games/operators.

Commercial communications for games or operators that are not duly authorised are generally prohibited under the Gaming Commercial Communications Regulations and MGA guidelines.

Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), central regulator for land-based and remote gaming — www.mga.org.mt

Gaming Act, Chapter 583 of the Laws of Malta, and subsidiary legislation S.L. 583.01–583.12.

Online casino: Licensed. Online sports betting: Licensed.

The regulator publishes a register of licensed operators. MGA maintains an online list of licensed operators in the Licensee Hub; includes B2C/B2B licences and recognition notices.

https://www.mga.org.mt/licensee-hub/

• Administrative fines against unlicensed operators
• Criminal liability for operating without MGA authorisation
• Licence suspension or revocation for breaches by licensees

• Only MGA licensees or recognition notice holders may advertise licensable games
• Commercial communications must not target or depict minors or vulnerable persons
• Advertising must not portray gaming as a solution to financial or personal problems or as socially attractive
• All ads must be socially responsible, factually accurate and not misleading

• Continued implementation of streamlined B2C/B2B licensing and umbrella remote gaming framework under the 2018 Gaming Act
• Ongoing refinement of commercial communications guidance by the MGA’s Commercial Communications Committee
• Recognition notice regime for EEA and other permitted jurisdictions clarified for offering services in or from Malta

• Exact Criminal Code or Gaming Act sections criminalising unlicensed gambling not confirmed
• Specific use of ISP or payment blocking measures against offshore sites not clearly evidenced
• Precise article numbers within S.L. 583.09 on advertising unlicensed gambling not confirmed
• Whether sweepstakes/social casinos are treated as exempt social gaming or as licensed gaming in Malta.
• Whether paid mystery boxes/loot boxes are specifically regulated as gambling or consumer products in Malta.
• Whether prediction markets are licensed as betting/financial products or restricted under separate Maltese rules.

1. gtg.com.mt/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GTDT-Gaming-2021-MALTA.pdf
2. gtg.com.mt/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GAM25_Chapter-22_Malta.pdf
3. gtg.com.mt/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GAM21_Chapter-24_Malta.pdf
4. mga.org.mt/licensee-hub/applications/b2c-licences/remote-gaming-services/
5. mga.org.mt/app/uploads/Commercial-Communications-Committee-Guidelines.pdf
6. gtg.com.mt/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/GAM22_Chapter-26_Malta.pdf
7. practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/comparison/953/17717/27682-27683-27684-27685-27686-27687-27688-27689-27690-27691-27692-27693
8. gamblinglawindex.com/jurisdictions/malta/
9. pokerlistings.com/blog/poker-in-malta
10. somuchpoker.com/poker-guides/europe/malta
11. igaming-times.com/countries/malta
12. riverodds.app/poker-in-malta/
13. softswiss.com/gambling-regulation-map/malta/
14. gamblingmaps.org/map/regulations/malta
15. gvzh.mt/insights/chambers-global-practice-guides-gaming-law-2024/
16. mondaq.com/gaming/869826/the-chambers-malta-gaming-2019-guide
17. blask.com/knowledge/loot-box/
18. lawofmalta.com/whats-new
19. legislation.mt/eli/ln/2026/84/eng

Researched 2026-09-21 from public sources and summarised by the Brandfense team. Not legal advice — confirm with the regulator or your counsel before acting.