Tier-1 (Premium European)
Malta licence.
MGA
Hub for European multi-market operators, B2B platform providers, and Tier-1 suppliers. The reputational shorthand "MGA-licensed" still opens banking and PSP relationships across most of Europe.
What the regulator asks for
Year one cost
€100k-€200k Year 1
Application €5,000. Compliance contribution €25k-€100k+ depending on type and revenue. Add €40k-€80k for legal, key-function staffing, and audit. Local substance is no longer optional.
Timeline
4-6 months
Pre-2024 timelines have lengthened. MGA is filtering harder on beneficial ownership and source-of-funds. Expect 6 months from a clean dossier to authorisation.
Gaming tax
Major reform effective 1 October 2026 under Legal Notices 84 and 86 of 2026: 15% GGR on Type 1 (RNG casino), 10% on Type 2 (sports betting), 10% on Type 3 (P2P/poker), 10% on Type 4 (game suppliers/B2B), 5% on controlled premises and junkets. Replaces the prior 5% rate plus tiered compliance levy. Studio broadcasting levy €500 to €3,000 per year. Device levy abolished. VAT framework also amended (LN 86/2026): only services to Malta-located players in scope.
Marketing climate
Permissive by EU standards. Malta does not police marketing into other EU markets, but those other markets do, so the operator carries the cross-border risk.
The market
Malta remains the central licensing hub for EU-facing operators, but the calculus has shifted. The 2018 Gaming Act reform consolidated four old licence types into two (B2C, B2B). The 2024 FATF grey-list exit restored confidence. The 2026 tax reform replaces the simple 5% headline with a tiered structure that increases the headline number but adds clarity and scope flexibility.
How the application runs
Two-stage authorisation: Pre-Application meeting then full submission. Key Function holders (CEO, MLRO, Compliance, Key IT, Game Lab) must reside in Malta or commute regularly. System audit by MGA-approved tester. ISO 27001 expected.
Ongoing compliance
Player Protection Directive 2018/9 in force. Self-exclusion via national LSE. Real-time data link to MGA. AML/CFT supervision by FIAU. Financial crime, source-of-wealth, and beneficial-ownership scrutiny is now meaningful.
What you can and cannot say
Bonus restrictions modest. Welcome offers permitted. The MGA expects responsible-gambling tooling but does not prescribe creative. Cross-border marketing carries the destination market's rules.
The honest read
What it means for your plan
Still the most operator-friendly Tier-1 licence for groups serving multiple EU markets via local licences. The 2026 tax reform raises the headline rate but is generally seen as fair given the scope and reputation Malta delivers. Best for operators who want one regulator to anchor a multi-jurisdiction stack.
How to open an online casino here
The step by step for Malta: entity, application, key function holders, documents, systems, and the audit before go live.
Read the Malta guide
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