Gaming’s economic impact rises 3.5% in 2024 despite license issuance dropping 50% since 2022

Gross value added generated by the gaming industry grew by 3.5 per cent in 2024, reaching €1.39 million, according to the Malta Gaming Authority’s (MGA) new annual report for the year.

Published last week, the MGA’s report offers insights into Malta’s gaming sector, which accounts for around 6.2 per cent of the national workforce, equivalent to approximately 18,000 people employed directly or indirectly in the industry.

For the second consecutive year, the number of new licenses issued by the MGA remains on a downward trend, despite increased economic activity. This decline, which began in 2023, is especially evident when compared to 2022 figures. In 2024, 17 new gaming licenses were issued out of the 28 applications, two more than in 2023, but still significantly lower than the 46 issued in 2022.

20 gaming licence applications were either rejected, withdrawn, or cancelled in 2024.

By the end of 2023, the average operating period for Malta-licensed gaming operators was 7.53 years. For the 100 largest operators by turnover, responsible for around 60 per cent of activity under the Malta licence, the average nearly doubled to 13 years.

Companies licensed by the MGA – including online and land-based entities – stood at 315 in 2024, which held a total of 323 gaming licenses, a slight decrease from 2024’s 326. Nevertheless, €82.4 million were collected by the Authroity in compliance contributions, licence fees, levies, and consumption tax.

B2B and B2C licenses

Following the revamp of the licensing regime in 2018, the number of B2B licences has continued to grow in 2024, both in terms of newly issued and renewed licences. In 2024, 60.7 per cent of new gaming applications were for B2B authorisations, and 64.7 per cent of the newly issued licences fell under the B2B category.

Over recent years, the number of B2B licences has grown significantly, reaching 164 by the end of 2024. In contrast, B2C licences have declined, standing at 147 in 2024, down from 155 in 2023 and 187 in 2022.

Inspections and enforcement

The MGA reported that in 2024, 9,060 inspections were carried out on gaming premises such as casinos and bingo halls, controlled gaming premises, national lottery outlets including non-profit tombola.

In general, the number of inspections decreased from 2023 to 2024. The most inspections carried out in 2024 were in casinos, which amounted to 7,189, slightly lower than 2023’s 7,275.

Inspections in controlled gaming premises decreased significantly from 1661 in 2023 to 378 in 2024.

Nonetheless The ‘National Lottery outlets controlled gaming premises’ was only introduced this year, in response to a shift in the market, with certain gaming parlours that previously operated independently now being brought under the National Lottery operator.

During 2024, the MGA issued 35 warnings. Eight licenses were cancelled, two were suspended and 25 administrative penalties were issued.

MGA’s financial performance

In 2024, the MGA reported revenue of €84 million, compared to the €82 million reported in 2023. Administrative and other expenses also increased from €13 million to €13.4 million.

The report said that “after deducting all expenditure the Authority registered a surplus for the year of €71.2 million, compared to 2023’s €71.4 millon.”

It continued: “The Authority transferred €71 million (2023: €72.5 million) to the Government of Malta.”

Malta Gaming Authority / Facebook