Compare jurisdictions
Malta or the UK: which gambling licence fits your operation?
Both are demanding regimes with strong standing. The deciding question is usually where your players are. Here is how they compare.
Malta licenses under the Gaming Act through the Malta Gaming Authority; the UK licenses under the Gambling Act 2005 through the UK Gambling Commission and its Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice. Both review who owns and runs the business closely and both supervise actively once you are licensed.
At a glance
| Topic | Malta | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Market | A licence that supports operating across the EU, subject to each member state's own rules. It does not cover Great Britain. | Required to offer gambling to consumers in Great Britain, wherever the business is based. |
| Regulator fees | €5,000 application fee. Minimum annual licence fees of €5,000 to €25,000 depending on licence type, plus a monthly compliance contribution. | For a remote casino licence, an application fee from £8,185 and an annual fee from £7,000, rising with gross gambling yield. The first annual fee is reduced by 25%. |
| Timeline | 4 to 8 months from application, excluding preparation. | Around 16 weeks from a complete application, and longer where the Commission asks for more. |
| People | Key function holders appointed for the roles the MGA specifies, assessed as fit and proper. | Personal licences for individuals in management and functional roles that require one, so accountable people are licensed too. |
| Tax | Corporate tax of 35%, with shareholder refunds that can bring the effective rate to around 5%, and, since 1 October 2026, a gaming tax of 15% on type 1 games or 10% on types 2, 3 and 4, on revenue from players in Malta. | Remote Gaming Duty of 40% from 1 April 2026; a 25% rate for remote sports betting from 1 April 2027; UK corporation tax on the UK entity's profits. |
Indicative and for orientation. UK fees are for a remote casino licence under the Commission's schedule effective from 1 October 2026; other activities have their own tables. Tax treatment depends on your structure and is confirmed with your tax adviser.
Which one fits you?
| If you are… | Lean towards | Why |
|---|---|---|
| An operator whose revenue comes mainly from Great Britain | United Kingdom | A UKGC licence is the only route to the British market. |
| An operator focused on EU markets | Malta | An MGA licence supports operating across the EU and is well regarded by EU banks and partners. |
| An operator serving both | Both licences | They cover different markets. Plan the second while preparing the first, with the group structure in mind. |
| A B2B supplier | Whichever your customers need | Operators often ask suppliers for a specific licence. Ask your largest customers first. |
| An operator weighing tax above all | Look at the whole structure | Malta's imputation system and the UK duty rates differ sharply. Take tax advice on your structure before you choose. |
Start from your market, not the cheapest licence
Where your players are, which payment providers you need and what your banks will accept usually decide the jurisdiction. A cheaper licence that limits where you can operate is rarely the cheaper outcome.
Common questions
Keep reading
Jurisdiction
Gambling licence in Malta
The MGA's fit-and-proper review, the licence types and the fees.
Jurisdiction
Gambling licence in the United Kingdom
The UKGC's operating and personal licences and what it expects.
Comparison
Compare Curaçao, Malta and the UK
Licence types, fees, timelines and local presence, side by side.
Not sure which one fits?
A short call is usually enough to narrow two options down to one, or to plan holding both.