The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has said the country’s gaming industry remained a reliable pillar of the economy in the first half of 2025, even as the number of licensed entities continued to shrink amid consolidation across the sector.
In an interim performance report covering January to June, the regulator estimated that gaming generated €714.4m in Gross Value Added, “representing 6.5% of Malta’s total GVA”, a level it said has held broadly steady since 2022.
The report argues that the headline stability masks a business that is changing shape. “The decline in the total number of companies and licences reflects the continued consolidation of a maturing and evolving industry,” it said, adding that firms are “increasingly prioritising long-term sustainability and quality, within a more complex international regulatory environment”.
At the same time, the MGA is presenting Malta as more than a licensing outpost. “Our ongoing focus is on positioning Malta as the central hub for the global gaming industry,” it said, promising “an environment that encourages innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth”.
Fewer licences, but steady employment and revenues
As of the end of June, the MGA said 304 companies held 312 gaming licences, down from earlier periods, while the authority collected €41.5m in “compliance contributions, licence fees, levies, and consumption tax” during the six-month stretch.
On employment, the regulator estimated that “the number of employees working in Malta with MGA-licensed operators is estimated to be approximately 14,797 individuals”, which it said was “a 3.1% increase” compared with the end of 2024 and accounted for “about 5.0% of Malta’s total workforce”.
The report also points to a continued shift towards business-to-business activity. It notes that “the B2B segment accounted for 55.5% of the total licence base”, calling it “an important trend change” as the Maltese licence “progressively” evolves towards “activities with a lower risk profile”.
In its accompanying press statement, the authority said it received 28 applications for new gaming licences and issued eight licences in the first half of the year, while processing renewals as well. It also pointed to a high volume of lower-risk permitting work, including 898 permits for non-profit tombola, as well as permits for non-profit lotteries and certificates for commercial communication games.
Audits, player cases and anti-money laundering checks
Beyond the industry’s economic weight, the interim report reads as a snapshot of a regulator leaning heavily on supervision. The MGA said it concluded “seven full-scope compliance audits” and carried out “a total of 87 focused and targeted supervisory engagement efforts” across compliance, player protection and sports-betting integrity.
It also dealt with a sizeable caseload from players. “In the first six months of 2025, we received a total of 1,720 requests for assistance from players,” it said, while “a further 1,723 requests were resolved during the same period, including a number of spill-over cases carried forward from 2024.”
Player funds and dodgy websites were another focus. The authority said it received 891 monthly player funds reports, and reviewed 75 URLs linked to unregulated activity, finding 34 that “contain fraudulent references to the Authority or its licensees”.
On financial crime controls, the report states that “a total of 11 AML/CFT Compliance Examinations were initiated” in the period, alongside interviews with prospective money-laundering reporting officers.
The MGA also described an intensive inspection programme on the ground, saying it conducted almost 4,200 inspections across casinos, bingo halls, controlled gaming premises, lottery outlets and non-profit events.
The press release said the MGA issued “23 cease and desist letters, 15 warnings, 23 administrative penalties, which amounted to €139,360, and one licence cancellation” between January and June.
A broader pitch for Malta’s gaming sector
The interim publication comes as the authority tries to frame Malta’s gaming sector as both stable and more demanding on standards. “Malta’s commitment to regulatory excellence and responsible business practices continues to underpin the value of its licence,” the report said, arguing the jurisdiction is moving “beyond a solely licensing-focused hub into a centre of innovation, regulatory quality, and high-value services.”
That messaging sits alongside the MGA’s push on environmental, social and governance standards. In comments published earlier, the regulator said: “The second cycle of the ESG Code has shown that licensees are increasingly embracing the spirit of the framework, not just the mechanics of reporting,” while MGA chief executive Charles Mizzi argued: “Operators are not only meeting expectations but also building trust and resilience, which benefits both their business and society.”
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