With a breadth of industry expertise, experience, and a geographical focal point for the sports betting and iGaming industry, it’s no surprise that games of chance have a long-standing history within the Mediterranean country.
Altenar, a sportsbook software provider, based on the island of Malta, explores the country's history with betting and gambling—and how this island supports the thriving iGaming business.
Let’s explore why Malta is the perfect place to build, design, and develop sports betting software, and how Altenar’s sportsbook software has not only earned global acclaim but also helped establish Malta as a hub for sports betting software providers.
How Malta’s History Shaped Modern-Day Sports Betting Software
As the first country in the EU to introduce online gambling regulation, Malta positioned itself—and those operating, providing, and developing within the iGaming industry—as a go-to destination for everything related to sports betting and gambling software.
With over 300 sportsbook software providers, gambling operators, and related companies, Malta’s rich gaming history—including games like Cippitatu (a game of chance involving bets on how a spinning top would land)—has certainly evolved into the global iGaming powerhouse it is today.
As the world embraced all things sportsbook and the industry expanded globally, Malta maintained its reputation for excellence, with software providers like Altenar leading the charge.
The business of sports betting software and iGaming took off—and notably, one of the industry’s top events is hosted in Malta: SIGMA Europe, often called SIGMA Malta Week by insiders.
Yet it’s not just the glitz and glamour of events like SIGMA that draw professionals to Malta—it’s the highly educated talent pool building and supporting sportsbook software behind the scenes.
Malta has one of the highest standards of education in the region, producing a strong workforce of skilled, passionate, and driven professionals who help fuel the success of the Maltese iGaming sector.
Finding top-tier and adaptable sports betting software isn’t difficult in Malta—especially when you know where to look. Altenar, a sportsbook software provider, is a tier-one company with multiple awards and industry accolades.
A Look at Betting Regulations in Malta | Altenar & You
The MGA (Malta Gaming Authority) allows the following games of chance:
- online betting;
- bingo;
- casino;
- lotteries;
- fantasy sports;
- poker; and
- social gaming.
Types of Licenses
As a sportsbook software provider, Altenar has extensive experience in regulatory compliance and wants to share some of the key requirements to participate in Malta’s iGaming landscape. As one of Altenar’s homes, the sports betting solutions provider knows Malta and its regulatory framework inside and out.
The MGA may issue the following licenses:
- Gaming Services License – a business-to-consumer (B2C) license to offer or carry out a gaming service. A B2C license may cover any one or more of the following game types:
1. Casino-type games.
2. Games of chance played against the house, where outcomes are determined by events or competitions.
3. Games of chance not played against the house—poker, bingo, betting exchanges, and other commission-based games.
4. Controlled skill games.
- Critical Gaming Supply License – a business-to-business (B2B) license for companies providing critical gaming components essential to game outcomes or regulatory data processing.
- Corporate Group License – B2B or B2C licenses issued to corporate groups that include more than one company within their structure.
License Duration
A standard license term, whether original or renewed, is ten years, while a recognition notice is valid for one year. A recognition notice is issued by the MGA to acknowledge a license granted by another EU/EEA member state—or a jurisdiction offering equivalent safeguards—as having the same legal effect as an MGA-issued license.
Supporting Sports Betting Software Providers | Malta
It’s not just the developers and sales teams who power the sports betting software industry. Malta also boasts one of the strongest support ecosystems in Europe, giving providers access to multidisciplinary experts including lawyers, accountants, SEO specialists, marketers, PR professionals, and event managers.
This ensures sportsbook software providers—and their clients—have the right support structure to fuel efficient operations and long-term success.
Contact Altenar, a sportsbook software provider, today to discover how your sportsbook can be designed with your business and your players in mind.
