Confirming the success of the Malta Gaming Licence, official statistics indicate that the number of Malta gaming licences granted by the Malta Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA) has, since 2008, doubled. As more gaming companies are setting up in Malta, this result confirms that the Malta’s approach to the regulating of the market is meeting the expectations of operators and players, alike.
Since March 2008, the number of gaming licences have increased to 425 licences with the number of people directly employed in this sector almost doubling with the result that there are nearly 4,000 people in Malta with direct employment in this industry.
Addressing the regulatory revolution that the gaming industry has faced in the past years, Malta has ensured that its gaming regime is in compliance with all EU legislation, securing that the EU treaty principle of freedom of establishment is upheld. This has allowed Malta gaming companies to obtain licences in France, Italy, Denmark and Spain. This is supported by statistics, with almost 60% of the Danish licensees being Maltese registered companies, 40% in France, and similar statistics in Italy and Spain.
In addition to the prudent yet pragmatic approach that the Malta gaming licence adopts, Malta’s success story may be attributed to numerous factors, including the favourable Malta corporate and gaming tax regimes; the low fees; reputability of the Malta gaming license and the advantageous European onshore business environment.
This is strengthened by a regulator that was been declared as winner of the Fast50 award for the past two years and which has, over the past 18 months, engaged in a number of bilateral talks with regulators in other member states, including Denmark, Italy, and the UK. The LGA has also signed bilateral Memoranda of Understanding with the Danish and Ontario gaming authorities. Simultaneously, Malta’s gaming regulator has signed sport integrity memoranda of understanding with FIFA, the International Olympic Committee and the European Sports Security Association.
