Malta Gaming Authority Sees Surge in Licence Applications

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) recorded a significant increase in online gambling licence applications throughout 2025, reinforcing Malta's standing as Europe’s leading jurisdiction for regulated iGaming and underscoring the broader economic momentum that continues to set the EU's smallest member state apart from its peers.

By the end of 2024, some 300 gaming companies held active licences in Malta, with that figure continuing to climb through 2025 as both new market entrants and established operators sought to base their operations within the MGA's regulatory framework. The surge reflects a wider industry trend towards EU-based licensing, with operators increasingly prioritising jurisdictions that offer legal certainty, cross-border recognition, and a mature compliance environment.

The growth in applications has been driven in part by regulatory reforms that streamlined Malta's Gaming Act, improving clarity for applicants while maintaining robust oversight. The MGA’s framework is particularly attractive to companies offering hybrid digital products spanning live dealer games, esports betting, and skill-based platforms, with global online gambling revenue surpassing $95 billion in 2024, according to H2 Gambling Capital, and Europe contributing approximately 40 per cent of that total.

The success of Malta’s gaming sector is just one example of how the country has consistently embraced innovation, carving out industry niches to sustain strong economic growth. Another recent example is in the insurance sector whereby Malta became the only full EU member state with Protected Cell Company legislation and the only European jurisdiction to have enacted legislation facilitating the establishing of Securitisation Cell Companies (SCCs). 

This approach is clearly paying off with Malta’s economy expanding by 86% since 2014 compared to the Eurozone average of 14%. The country was also recognised as the highest climber in Greenfield’s FDI Performance Index last year and is on track to exit the European Union's (EU) Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP) a year ahead of schedule.