Market for gambling on Maltese football still small, says MGA

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) reports that the market for Maltese football gambling remains relatively small, with a consistently low proportion of bettors placing wagers on domestic football competitions. While sports betting activity in general is strong, the MGA noted that “interest in local football competitions remains a niche segment.”  

The MGA’s recent thematic review of the local football betting landscape focused on B2C Type 2 licensees – covering all bets placed against the house, where outcomes are determined by the results of football competitions – analysing data from the 2023-2024 football season.

The MGA distributed surveys to 60 licensees as part of its review.

One operator reported that while players wagered less than €50 in total, it paid out around €900 – a pay-out ratio exceeding 450 per cent. Overall, reported stakes varied widely across companies, with pay-outs ranging from under €50 to amounts exceeding €800,000. Some licensees even operated at a loss, reporting negative gaming revenue figures.

Several licensees have also reported that non-Maltese bettors actively place wagers on Maltese football competitions.

While the number of foreign players varies, some licensees see thousands of cross-border bettors participating. This shows that Maltese football attracts some international interest, although the betting volume is still small compared to larger global competitions.

These foreign bettors come from various parts of Europe and other regions, highlighting that online betting on Maltese football reaches beyond local borders. Although Maltese football betting attracts some international bettors, the overall number is small compared to bigger global competitions.

Questionnaire results reveal that licensees offer a wide but uneven selection of betting markets on Maltese football competitions. The most popular markets are Match Winner (56 per cent) and Total Goals (29 per cent), highlighting the strong preference for outcome-based bets.

Other markets such as Handicap (7 per cent), Corner (5 per cent), Future Wagers (2 per cent) and Card Markets (1 per cent) are offered less frequently, indicating varying levels of interest in more specialised options.

This diversity shows that while mainstream markets dominate, some licensees continue to explore niche and customised betting opportunities to engage bettors.

Males continue to dominate the betting scene, comprising 73 per cent of participants, followed by 18 per cent unspecified and nine per cent females.

Additionally, the MGA noted that the local betting market relies on “a small but clearly profiled segment of Maltese bettors, predominantly young men living in the island’s most densely populated areas.”