- Development and history of gambling in Malta
- Regulation of gambling in Malta
- Online gambling in Maltese casinos for Poles
- Betting in Malta casinos
- The registration process and bonuses for Poles in the best online casino in Malta
- How to make payments at a Maltese online casino?
- Fighting addiction in Malta
- Summary: the benefits of gambling in Malta
This and more will be told by the expert of our portal Milan Rabszski. You will learn about:
- history of gambling development;
- the Maltese Gambling Licensing and regulatory authority;
- the most popular gambling and sports betting;
- the registration process on gambling sites for Poles in Malta.
Development and history of gambling in Malta
With the island's rich history and links to several empires and civilizations, Malta's history of gambling goes back many centuries. In the past, one of the first betting games in Malta was Ic-Cippitatu 0, a traditional game from the ancient part of the island, played during feasts and festivals.
During the Middle Ages, in the 17th and 18th centuries, lotteries were introduced to Malta, which were very popular in Italy. Lotto became legal in 1922, and only in 1948 the National Lottery was established. Since then, this is the favorite game of the inhabitants of Malta.
However, this does not mean that gambling regulations are a modern element in Malta. On the contrary, betting on horse racing was legalized in the country in the middle of the XIX century. The first legal land – based casino on the island-Dragonara-was opened in 1964 in a magnificent Old Palace of the XiX century. Overlooking the sea, the resort has 300 slot machines and 15 live gaming tables that are available 24 hours a day and seven days a week, it is estimated that 350,000 players visit the casino annually, making it one of the largest tourist attractions in the country.
However, Dragonara is not the only land-based casino. Casino Malta from Olympic Casino, the largest casino on the island, houses 285 slot machines and 29 card games. It is also designed for players who prefer to bet on sporting events and regularly organizes poker tournaments.
Regulation of gambling in Malta
The online gambling industry in Malta has become a huge engine for the growth of the country's economy in the early 21st century. When Malta joined the European Union in 2004, its budget was mainly financed by tourism. At that time, an online casino from Malta was a relatively new concept in Europe, which helped this small country stabilize its markets. Currently, Malta's online gambling laws are considered to be the most regulated and clear. Both land-based casinos and online gambling in Malta are fully legal if they operate under a valid license.
If we talk about gambling authorities, Malta has its well-known regulatory body called The Malta Gambling authority (MGA), which was previously called the Lotteries and Gaming Authority. Controlled by the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Malta, MGa is responsible for managing both the offline and online gambling industry in Malta. In addition to being the only gambling regulator in Malta, the MGA owns the remote gaming sector, providing foreign casinos with a license to gamble online. The Maltese authorities are authorised to issue such licences.
Malta has established a complete set of rules on online gambling to create an appropriate regulatory framework. Among them are the law on lotteries and other games, the law on gambling, the law on consumer affairs, the law on the Prevention of money laundering and many others. All in order to make online gambling in Malta legal and safe.
The main difference between Maltese and South African casinos is that Maltese can use an online casino for money when they are 25 years old. South African players as well as foreigners can play for real money if they are at least 18 years old. It is forbidden to gamble for people under 18 years of age.
For every win received for betting online and in land-based casinos, players from Malta must pay 5% tax. In contrast, players from other countries, including Poles, are exempt from tax, unless it is professional income. The lack of tax on winnings attracts the attention of customers from all over the world.
Malta license for foreign casinos
There are four types of licenses in Malta:
- casino games, lotteries and slot machines-49%;
- sports betting-37%;
- tournaments and bingo – 11%;
- software vendors who charge a commission on bets-3%.
The island is home to several of Europe's most popular online casinos that hold a Maltese license, including the most popular ones being Betsson, Tipico and Betfair. In addition, in 2019, Bet365 announced that it was moving to Malta from Gibraltar together with more than 500 employees.
The Maltese legal authority always warns about the social responsibility of the licensee. To maintain truly safe online gambling, operators in Malta and abroad must apply policies designed to eliminate the risk of gambling addiction. The best online gambling sites in Malta should provide a high level of protection to their players and prevent money laundering. Granting a license is not an irrevocable process, therefore legal online casinos in Malta should always prove their status by operating in a transparent manner and in accordance with established standards.
The fees for a $married license application vary depending on the type and size of the company, but usually start at 25,000 euros, and for large, $married companies – up to about 500,000 euros. The annual renewal of the licence costs EUR 25 000. License approval usually takes 12-16 weeks.
Gambling in Malta in numbers
- 56% - of the population regularly participates in gambling.
- around 4,200 Maltese-play at online casinos every week.
- 49 minutes-the average player spends a week on online gaming sites.
- 18 – 24 years – the largest age group of online players in Malta.
- 200 euros-on average, every adult spends on gambling.
- 40% - gamblers in Malta use credit cards to gamble.
Online gambling in Maltese casinos for Poles
Online casinos in Malta can offer a variety of games, from slots to roulette and blackjack. However, players from Malta have their favorite games. Players ' preferences are slightly different from the most popular games of South African players. Let's compare the popularity of gambling among Poles and Maltese.
Slot machines in Malta casinos
Slot machines are the most popular casino games worldwide. You can expect hundreds of titles to play at any online casino of your choice in Malta. The most popular slot machines among Maltese-Starburst, Mega Moolah, Immortal Romance. These are mainly games diamonds and slots with an adventure theme. In South Africa, the most popular in South African online casinos are classic slots and fruit machines, for example Ultra Hot Deluxe or Amazing Fruits.
Card and table games: the best offers online and live
Online and live card games quickly became a new trend. All the best online casinos in Malta have card and table games. This allows you to play with the computer or with other players and croupiers live in real time. This means that you can experience the pleasure of staying at a land-based casino in the comfort of your own home.
Compared to South Africa, where real gambling halls have almost been forgotten, in Malta land-based casinos are still very popular. Therefore, South African players are more likely to choose South African online casinos that offer legal live card games, while Maltese prefer real land-based casinos.
Lotto, scratch cards and bingo for Poles
The lottery is the most popular gambling game in Malta, especially among the elderly. This is predictable, since most people are used to buying tickets with every purchase in the store. South African players prefer to buy scratchcards and lotteries at an online casino in South Africa or using an app on their phone.
Betting in Malta casinos
There are dozens of licensed betting operators in Malta, which means that local residents have access to the best online sports betting and they are very popular in the country. As in most European countries, football is extremely popular in Malta and often dominates all sports betting sites in terms of revenue. With this in mind, Maltese sites also offer many other international sports markets, including the growing e-sports market. The euro is used for betting.
Registration on the betting site will not take much time. Just like in Maltese online casinos, all you have to do is enter your personal details, email and come up with a password. We advise you to choose only legal bookmakers who are licensed in Malta. Here is a ranking of the 5 best in our opinion:
- Gamdom,
- Stake,
- Fansbet,
- Sportbet,
- Conquestador.
Spending a total of more than 100 million euros on gambling annually, the Maltese have secured the position of one of the largest gamblers in the world. On average, each adult spends about 200 euros (900 SAN) per year. About 37% of this amount, or 74 euros ($350 otych).
The registration process and bonuses for Poles in the best online casino in Malta
Registration in a Maltese casino is similar to registration on a South African gambling site. You must provide personal data-name, date of birth and address of residence. To play for real money, it is mandatory to verify the player's account. For this purpose, you must send an identity document to customer service. This can be a passport, driver's license or ID card. Any foreigner can register at a foreign casino in Malta.
No deposit bonus offers per registration or per deposit
When you search for a Maltese gambling site, you are sure to come across a lot of welcome offers. Online casinos in Malta usually offer bonus money for first deposits and free spins to popular slot machines for free. Bookmakers usually offer free bets for the first deposit for new players. In particular, we recommend that you check the wagering requirements to find out how to withdraw bonus funds in a convenient way.
How to make payments at a Maltese online casino?
Malta's licensed gambling platforms work closely with the largest and most respected financial institutions to provide players with fast and secure transactions. The best sites will make it easier to make payments from well-known payment providers such as Visa and Mastercard, as 40% of players in Malta use credit cards to gamble.
The good news for South African players is that any foreigner can open a bank account in a Maltese bank. You do not need proof of residence or check-in in the country. Unfortunately, this can not be done online, so a visit to the bank is necessary. The official currency in Malta is the euro, so you can only pay in euros at casinos. Some of the most popular gambling sites allow you to choose a different currency, for example with a $otek payment. Unfortunately, you cannot pay with flash.
Because different payment types have different characteristics, such as different transaction times and fee systems, each gambling platform sets its own minimum and maximum deposit and withdrawal limits. Below is a list of the most popular payment methods accepted on Maltese gambling sites.
| Payment method in Malta | Characteristics |
| SEPA | With the Single Euro Payments Area, customers can make cashless payments in euro to anywhere in the European Union, as well as to many non-EU countries, in a fast, secure and efficient way up to a maximum daily limit of EUR 100,000. |
| MINT | It was created in 2013 as a prepaid payment method for the purchase of digital goods and services with the aim of providing customers with a safer and easier alternative to credit cards or bank transfers. The minimum transaction limit is EUR 0.30. |
| BitPay | It provides easy payments using cryptocurrencies in 229 countries and territories, including Malta. Account holders can spend up to € 10,000 per day. |
| Paysera Wallet | The System connects local and international banks, international payment systems and makes transfers to more than 180 countries in more than 30 currencies. The maximum daily transaction limit is EUR 10,000. |
| PaysafeCash | It is a secure electronic payment method, based on cash prepayment, whose users replenish the balance in authorized stores and receive a 16-digit PiN number for making online payments. The maximum payment Limit is EUR 300. |
| Hyperwallet | This e-wallet allows you to make payments in many different ways, including bank transfer, prepaid card, gift card, even check. |
Interesting:
In 2017, at Casumo online casino, which is officially licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, a player won a jackpot of 4.6 million euros for a bet of 1 euro! It was a slot machine called Mega Fortune Dreams. This came after just five days of another multimillion-dollar win, in which a man from Sweden won 3.3 million euros for a spin worth 2.50 euros in the same slot.
Fighting addiction in Malta
Malta is a pioneer of online gambling security and has created a number of laws and restrictions that have had huge, positive consequences for the responsible promotion of gambling. Licensees are required to strictly adhere to these restrictions in order not to receive a high fine or lose their license. The common rules concern the enforcement of age and marketing restrictions and the inclusion of self-restrictions and self-exclusion mechanisms.
In 2014, the MGA established the Responsible Gaming Foundation to help research the effects of excessive gambling in Malta, while offering support to compulsive gamblers and their families. Anyone who needs help with gambling addiction can visit her website – rgf.org.mt - and fill out a short form. Such contact details are also available:
- e-mail: [email protected];
- phone number: 21499030/1;
- free helpline: 1777.
Although there are no exact statistics on the problem of gambling addiction in Malta, the fact that the 1777 helpline is open 24 hours a day indicates that it is a serious problem on the island. It happens that people even now bet car keys and lose cars at land-based casinos. As a result, the number of self-exclusion requests at online casinos in Malta increased by 9% per zes$per year. On average, four people a day apply for self-exclusion. The majority (52%) decide to self-exclude for six months, while 48% ask for a year's lockout.
Maltese youth are five times more addicted than adults. Compared to South Africa, where minors and very young people (18-24 years) are the most likely to play for Real Money, in Malta, players in the age group of 25-34 years make up the largest number of players playing remotely – 39.5% of all players.
If you feel that you are addicted to gambling, you can call the free RGF helpline: 1777. Agents provide advice and support. You can also write to us for help with self-exclusion or further support. It is important to protect yourself from any damage that may result from gambling addiction.
Summary: the benefits of gambling in Malta
Malta is a world leader in online gaming, with around 10% of the world's iGaming operators based in this country. For a nation of half a million people, Malta's position as a leader in online gambling is impressive. Industry forecasts predict that the global online gambling market will be worth $ 94.4 billion by 2024, with Malta as a key player.
