Low-Risk Games Permit

As defined within the Fifth Schedule of the Gaming Authorisations Regulations (S. L. 583.05) and Gaming Definitions Regulations (S. L. 583.04), low-risk games refers to:

  • Non-profit games where NINETY PERCENT (90%) of the net proceeds generated are forwarded for charitable, sporting, religious, philanthropic, cultural, education, social, or civic purposes.
  • Limited commercial communication games where the stakes are valued at no more than TWO EUROS (€2.00) per person, and a prize not exceeding TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY EUROS (€250.00) limited to a maximum of FIVE THOUSAND EUROS (€5,000.00) per month and no more than FIFTY THOUSAND EUROS (€50,000.00) per year.

Gaming operators who wish to run such games listed above are required to apply for a Low-Risk Games Permit issued by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). The permit is only valid for a single event, and will expire once the event is concluded.

Low-Risk Games Permit holders are not allowed to surrender the permit during the permit term without approval in writing of the MGA. Once such approval has been given, the Low-Risk Games Permit will then be surrendered as per the terms and conditions that is specified by the MGA.

Fees & Taxation

Holders of the Low-Risk Games Permit must pay a one-time, non-refundable application fee of TWENTY-FIVE EUROS (€25.00) per permit to the MGA.

Late payments of the application fee shall incur an additional TWENTY-FIVE EURO (€25.00) non-refundable late fee when the application is submitted less than SEVEN (7) days from the commencement of the game.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit their application for a Low-Risk Games Permit via electronic methods through the licensee portal.

Once the applicant have signed into the portal, they must choose between the following options depending on the type of game that the applicant is applying for:

  • Commercial Communication Game, Land-based
  • Non-Profit Lottery, Land-based
  • Non-Profit Bingo

The application must be submitted no less than SEVEN (7) working days before the commencement of the low-risk game organised, lest the applicant be incurred with a late application fee.

Permit applications that are not submitted with the required information requested by the MGA, including submitting the proof of payment, will have its application status set as ‘INCOMPLETE’ for a period of SIXTY (60) days.

If the application is not resubmitted with the requested information, the application will be rejected and closed by the MGA.