Running a gaming business in Malta is lucrative, but the licensing itself is quite expensive and can take a long time to complete. All this is true, if you do not use the services of professionals, then you get the opportunity to reduce the time to acquire a license.
Malta is the most convenient lawfullment for gaming companies, and with a permission it is possible to make money on whitelisted online gaming in sports and casinos, including in many other European territories. In addition, thanks to the signed bilateral tax agreements, the organizers of online games are given easy access to the markets of third countries, such as Asia and North Africa.
Having issued a mandatory permission for remote gaming, you can start furnishing online gaming and online betting services. Malta gaming license are issued for a period of 5 years with the possibility of renewal for the same period.
The local authorities are focusing on respect for the general rules and fair treatment in the gaming area in the country, in accordance with applicable laws in this sector. These legal relations are regulated by the 4th EU Directive and the Maltese Law on the Prevention of Money Washing. Our experts will help you deal with all the demands and successfully pass the test.
Differences and features
Each casino should abide by regulatory laws and have a special permission to conduct certain activities. In most casinos, the list of games is almost the same – slots, blackjack, poker. It can be supplemented with infrequent scratch games, baccarat, keno, and various types of custom casual games.
On the island, for such a type of remote gaming business as an online casino, a class 1 permission is issued. There are 4 such classes in total, of which the 2nd class is for sports betting, the 3rd class is for poker rooms, and the 4th class is for B2B gaming business.
For the first six months, all online casinos on the island are provided with discounts on the taxation of this type of activity. For permissioned activities of the 1st class, a tax of 4,660 euros per month is paid for six months, and from the 7th month already 7,000 euros.
Online casinos with a Maltese gaming license can proposal services to players from over 180 countries.
The list of countries where you can not use the gambling license in Malta:
- USA, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Indonesia and Malaysia.
- European jurisdictions: France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Lithuania, Estonia and Denmark.
Demands for a gambling license
To open an online casino on the island, you need to apply for a permission and provide a package of documentation. In addition, a number of other conditions will need to be met.
KYC procedure for clients
Online casinos on the island can be accessed by players from Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Australia. For a business to work legally, it is needed to carry out the KYC (know your customer) procedure in accordance with the AML demands in force in the European Union.
At the same time, there is no standardization of the papers and info required for the identification and verification of customers. To bring this down to a common thread, most regulators around the world provide a standardized list of the types of documentation that will be valid for identity verification. Usually it is enough to provide an identity card and a document confirming the place of residence.
Capital demands to Open an Online Casino in Malta
Malta gaming license obtaining requires a businessman to meet the minimum demands for authorized capital. To apply for a Class 1 license for an online casino, you will need to deposit a minimum of 100,000 euros.
If you plan to run several types of gaming business, for example, provide software in this area and engage in bookmaking, then you will need to raise capital in the amount of 240,000 euros.
Demands for gaming software in Malta
Once the legal demands are met, the next thing to consider when opening an online casino on the island is providing professional gaming software. Also, should be consideration to such components:
- game control system;
- cash system;
- fraud protection system;
- e-mail for storing received information;
- mechanism for reporting to fiscals;
- player enrollment system;
- payment methods for the game;
- bonuses and promotions.
A supplier offering such software must offer immediate technical support during its implementation as well as operations. When choosing a software vendor, you need to make sure that its product meets all the demands from a legal point of view.
Online casino enrollment process in Malta
To register an online casino, you need to achieve a remote gaming license in Malta. Licenses are issued by the state body – Malta Gaming Authority / MGA. The procedure for issuing a permit will not be difficult if you carefully prepare for it. Our experts will help you go through all the procedures until you get the result.
A company that has substance and is registered in the lawfullment as a VAT payer will be able to get a license in the country. In addition, it is necessary to ensure that the beneficiaries, sharers and managers of such a company are verified, and that a key official liable for communication with the authorities is present.
How to get gaming license in Malta
Based on the data you provide, our experts will conduct a preliminary assessment to ensure that the application and documentation comply with the demands put forward by the MGA. This will help avoid unnecessary delays when registering an online casino license in Malta.
The regulator, in turn, reviews applications in several stages:
- Evaluation of information regarding persons involved in financing and management, as well as in ensuring the conduct of business operations. The verification is carried out with the involvement of the resources of national and worldwide regulatory and law implementation agencies.
- In-depth monetary analysis of the business plan. We recommend that you immediately include in it a detailed forecast of work, incl. marketing strategies, activity planning, recruitment and development stages.
- Checking the company’s enrollment and constituent documents, as well as analyzing the structure of games, business processes, rules, terms and treatments of internal processes, application and system architecture.
- Once the application is approved, the regulator may recommend that a number of technical processes be put in place to prepare for the launch. This must be done within 60 days. During this time, you can conduct an audit of the external system, during which the working environment will be checked for compliance. When the audit process is completed, the MGA issues a five-year gaming permission.
- After receiving a permit, the company will need to conduct business in agreement with the demands of the MGA, as audits will be carried out by a specially hired independent third party during the first and third years of operation.
How do I get a gambling license in Malta?
Regardless of the Class, the first step in obtaining a permission is to enroll a legal entity on island and open a bank account to deposit the required share capital
The next step is to check and evaluate all information related to the financing and management of the company.
Conducting an in-depth monetary analysis of the applicant’s business plan.
At this stage, the company’s constituent legal papers, games, business processes related to remote games, rules, terms, conditions and order of games, application architecture and architecture of the gaming systems and control systems are checked.
After passing through all the above steps, the MGA notifies the applicant of the successful submission of the application and the final stage begins, at which a system audit is carried out.
Who regulates gambling in Malta?
The gaming business system on the island is perfectly regulated today. An important role in this was played by the policy of the Maltese government, aimed at creating favorable conditions for business related to holding lotteries and organizing gambling. MGA is the official state agency of the country, which issues licenses to gaming industry entities.
Is it legal to gamble in Malta?
Maltese law allows gambling both online and physically located in the country. A license can be issued for the following gaming games: online casinos, merchant communication games, betting on sports, national and other non-commercial entertainment games
Is gambling taxable in Malta?
To obtain a permission, you must pay the following state fees:
Official registration fee for filing an application – 2,330 euros;
Surveillance audit fee – EUR 2,750;
System audit fee – EUR 1,770;
The annual permission fee is 8,500 euros.
