Taras Miroshnychenko

Head of practice

E-mail

miroshnychenko@prikhodko.com.ua

Phone numbers

Head of Corporate Law and Fintech Practice. Expert in the creation and reorganization of companies, support of M&A transactions, as well as legal support for opening and running a business in the EU, Asia, and North America.

Gambling license in Malta

Malta has been holding the position of one of the most prestigious and attractive centers for registering companies for many years, not only in traditional business areas due to its attractive tax benefits, but also in such a specific area as the sphere of gambling and online gambling. After a certain number of regulatory policies, this jurisdiction has become a real "gold standard" of legal legalization of the gambling business, and the Maltese license is considered one of the most authoritative in the world.

Our team at the Law Company "Prikhodko and Partners" specializes in supporting foreign businesses in the field of international law, and we are ready to provide our clients with comprehensive services for obtaining, including a gaming license in Malta, including preparation of documents, interaction with the regulator and further legal support of your activities.

Why is it worth considering Malta?

Malta started the process of regulating the legalization of online gambling in the early 2000s. Since then, this country has sufficiently developed this direction, which, together with objective circumstances, provides the following advantages:

is a member of the European Union, which guarantees the recognition of its licenses in many countries;
has a stable and transparent regulatory system, which is provided by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA);
offers tax benefits and clear rules for operators;
is recognized by international banks, payment systems and investors as a reliable jurisdiction for the gambling business.

From the trends of recent experience, we can note that possession of a Maltese license increases trust in the operator, opens up access to cooperation with software providers and allows you to work with global partners.

Cost of legal advice

What types of licenses are there in Malta?

The MGA (Malta Gaming Authority) provides for several main categories of licenses, depending on the company's activities:

B2C license (Business to Customer) - for operators who work directly with customers (online casinos, sports betting, poker).
B2B license (Business to Business) - for companies that provide services to other operators (gaming software developers, payment services, platform providers).

In addition, licenses can be adapted for different types of games: casino, sports betting, lotteries, virtual sports, bingo, etc.

It will also be useful: Obtaining a Curacao gambling license

Main requirements for obtaining a license

To obtain a gaming license in Malta, a company must meet a number of requirements and perform certain actions:

Registration of a Maltese company - only local companies can apply for a license.
Compliance with the authorized capital - from €40,000 to €100,000 depending on the type of license.
Availability of key persons (fit & proper test) - the owners and directors of the company are checked for reputation and lack of criminal records.
Availability of a business plan and financial model - the MGA checks the viability and transparency of the business.
Compliance with the AML/KYC system - the company must have anti-money laundering and customer due diligence policies.
Technical infrastructure - servers and software must meet MGA requirements and be certified.

What stages can the process of obtaining a license be divided into?

As we mentioned earlier, we support clients at all stages of the process, namely:

Preliminary consultation and selection of the type of license – we determine which option is right for your business model.
Company registration in Malta – preparation of statutory documents and entry of the company into the register.
Preparation of a package of documents for the MGA – including a business plan, internal policies, technical description.
Passing the fit & proper test – support for owners and directors at the stage of reputation verification.
System audit and technical testing – confirmation of the security of software and servers.
Obtaining a license and starting operations – after a positive decision from the MGA.

If we consider the timing, we draw your attention to the fact that the process usually takes from 4 to 6 months, depending on the complexity of the project and the speed of document preparation.

Tax aspects

It should be noted that companies that have received a gaming license in Malta are subject to corporate taxation. The nominal tax rate is 35%, but thanks to the tax credit system, the real burden can be reduced to 5-10%. We discuss tax benefits in Malta in more detail in other articles that you can find on our website.

In addition to corporate tax, Malta also pays license fees and annual fees, which depend on the amount of income and the type of license, and in some cases, dividend tax may also be paid.

The cost of obtaining a gambling license

What are the advantages of an MGA license?

High level of trust among partners and customers;
Legal work in many international markets;
Ability to integrate with leading providers of games and payment systems;
Favorable tax system;
Transparent and understandable regulation that minimizes risks for business.

To sum up, obtaining a gaming license in Malta is not just a formality, but a complex process that requires in-depth legal and financial preparation. A properly executed MGA license opens the door to international markets, ensures the trust of customers and partners, and allows you to build a long-term and profitable business in the field of online gambling.

The law firm "Prikhodko and Partners" has experience in supporting international projects and is ready to provide a full cycle of services: from company registration in Malta to successfully obtaining a gaming license and further business support.

Calculate the cost of services

1 question

Do you already have a registered business in Malta?

Yes

2 question

Do you have experience working in the gaming industry?

Yes

3 question

Have you tried to get a gaming license before?

Yes

Can a non-resident register a company in Malta?

Yes, a foreign national may be a shareholder and director of a Malta Ltd. During registration, corporate KYC must be completed and documents confirming identity, residential address, source of funds, professional experience and the company’s future activities must be provided.

Do I need to travel to Malta in person?

No, the company can be registered entirely remotely. We prepare the necessary powers of attorney under which our local partners and lawyers carry out all registration actions on your behalf.

Can a Maltese company really pay only 5% tax?

The standard corporate tax rate is 35%. After payment of the tax and distribution of dividends, a shareholder may, in certain cases, receive a refund of part of the tax, which may reduce the effective burden for certain qualifying income. The 5% rate is not automatic and depends on the type of income, structure and compliance with procedural conditions.

Is it mandatory to appoint a Malta-resident director?

There is no general requirement for an ordinary Malta Ltd to appoint a local resident director. However, the composition of the board and the place of effective management affect substance, tax residence, banking compliance and the ability to use certain tax mechanisms.

Who is a local company secretary and why is one required?

Every Malta Ltd must have a company secretary. The company secretary ensures the maintenance of corporate registers, preparation of resolutions and monitoring of deadlines for filing the Annual Return and other documents with the Malta Business Registry. This is not the same as a director or nominee owner.

Successful cases on the topic: