Malta has tripled gambling taxes from October 1, 2026.

[Dogedegen]

(...)

The government will hide behind "we care about people and want less gambling addictive" when they will be asked why tax went from 5% to 15%. They often do that, hiding behind good deed to have opportunity to fill pockets more stiff. If the reason to increase tax is because government found they are underpaid or casinos are getting way too much, then this is selfish and ridiculous. I think Malta wont have to wait long when effect of this increase will start expressing. Imagine what will be with Las Vegas if they triple their taxes. It will turn into ghost town.

What you’re saying makes sense. I’m also not entirely sure that what the government is doing right now is purely to protect the public from the effects of gambling (addiction, total financial loss, etc) perhaps the government actually wants to generate more revenue, which is why gambling taxes have been raised so high. While this new policy is certainly very detrimental to casinos, for casinos to survive they may have to make many sacrifices, such as reducing/eliminating bonuses or promotions to cut costs. In any case, to me this figure is too high, it will be quite difficult for casinos to adapt.

Why does it have to be one or the other thing? They usually don't do things that way, but are trying to affect several things at the same time for some law and the primary reason can be anything. For example they might want to generate more revenue first but then they realize by increasing gambling taxes they can also reduce the effects of gambling at the same time. I don't really agree with casinos having to make many sacrifices. Improving your business so that it is more efficient is not a sacrifice, that is how it should be in a good market economy. How it comes to that is going to depend, in a perfect would it would be because of competition and in an imperfect world it can some be through laws and incentives. So let them figure out ways to better run the casinos, they have enough money on it and you don't even know how the owners of casinos are wasting money.

[r_victory]

Those who can pay more will remain in the market. I've seen that one way they try to restrict access to certain products and services is by increasing taxes. Perhaps this is better than completely banning casinos from operating, as they will continue to generate revenue for public coffers. The downside is that the casino cannot pass this cost on to the customer as a supermarket would, for example…

[cryptoaddictchie]

It does not sound like a hike, it is, they can't be operating with the way other countries are because every nation has their own way of running their economy and the standard at which their development has attained, moreover a country that taking up to 20% income tax on gambling is too greedy and selfish without considering for what the business operators are going to benefits in which they are doing, they are the one in their place will they be able to afford paying up to that percentage?.

Aight maybe thats right approach considering their statistical studies. Honestly that 20% taxes here in our country is not only for gambling but for everything. If you work thats the taxes will deduct from your earning. Same goes probably with business who operates on gambling and other business who knows could be more. ( No idea just a thought) but for users and people thats the cut our govt taking. Maybe lesser for married people with larger family dependents.

[Outhue]

Starting October 1, 2026, licensed gambling establishments in Malta will no longer pay a flat tax on gambling and will pay new taxes, which will vary depending on the product the establishment offers to consumers.

However, the second tax increase does not apply to all categories of games.
Until October 1, Malta had a flat 5% tax on profits. Now, taxes are 15% for casinos and lotteries, and 10% for betting, poker, bingo, and stock exchanges.
https://betstarters.com/maltas-gaming-tax-overhaul-what-changes-for-operators-from-october-1-2026/
This shows that regulators are restricting games of chance the most. However, there's an important nuance that's easy to miss: the tax is now calculated on player revenue, but only for those physically located in Malta. This effectively penalizes visitors to brick-and-mortar casinos.

Casinos will be able to settle any taxes thrown at their faces and the problem of not been able to pay up will start with small casinos that aren't making alot of money, even with 20% tax they can afford it, the competition will then start to increase even more, with the way that the economy is now growing I expect taxes to increase too, what I have learned since I lost my father is nothing will ever get cheaper, things will always increase in value and economy will slowly get worser.

[Japinat]

Casinos will be able to settle any taxes thrown at their faces and the problem of not been able to pay up will start with small casinos that aren't making alot of money, even with 20% tax they can afford it, the competition will then start to increase even more, with the way that the economy is now growing I expect taxes to increase too, what I have learned since I lost my father is nothing will ever get cheaper, things will always increase in value and economy will slowly get worser.

Since their operations now don't require big expenses then they can afford that, but if it's a physical casino I think they will struggle. And with the increase in taxes some will choose to stop operating, then the remaining casinos that survive will benefit as they will get those clients, that's the logic I see in it, so I believe they will not be quitting and will accept what the government requires as long as operating does not give them headaches. I don't see taxes as the main reason why casinos would stop operating but rather the difficulty of complying with regulations.

[Dareo]

-snip-

The casinos will definitely never take this extra tax payment out of their profit margins. Each time that the government decides to hike the level of taxation, these organizations find themselves a way to shift the responsibility of the cost to the common customers. Owing to this new regulation in Malta, the physical casinos cannot demand taxes from the players, but they will surely make sure that the chances of winning the game or the pay out percentage is lowered down. In the same manner that the VAT gets hiked in the product in the market, the organizations lower down the quantity of the products in the package rather than hiking its price. The ultimate loser from this collection of tax process between the government and the casinos will be the ordinary gamblers from whom all the tax revenue will get taken out.

[Iamgoat]

Those who can pay more will remain in the market. I've seen that one way they try to restrict access to certain products and services is by increasing taxes. Perhaps this is better than completely banning casinos from operating, as they will continue to generate revenue for public coffers. The downside is that the casino cannot pass this cost on to the customer as a supermarket would, for example…

I agree with you but what’s the point of making life a hell for those who are into the gambling business? I suppose we are in a free society where you should either be allowed to participate in a business or you are disallow from it at all. If you are not going to disallow someone from a business then don’t also make the business a living hell for them. This is the practice of most of these government and I believe with the Malta case too. I see it as governments taking advantage of the situation and the people who are into the business. I would not support the ban of gambling in Malta but I will also not make it too difficult for businesses to get involved or continue with their gambling business.

[Muba20]

Those who can pay more will remain in the market. I've seen that one way they try to restrict access to certain products and services is by increasing taxes. Perhaps this is better than completely banning casinos from operating, as they will continue to generate revenue for public coffers. The downside is that the casino cannot pass this cost on to the customer as a supermarket would, for example…

I agree with you but what’s the point of making life a hell for those who are into the gambling business? I suppose we are in a free society where you should either be allowed to participate in a business or you are disallow from it at all. If you are not going to disallow someone from a business then don’t also make the business a living hell for them. This is the practice of most of these government and I believe with the Malta case too. I see it as governments taking advantage of the situation and the people who are into the business. I would not support the ban of gambling in Malta but I will also not make it too difficult for businesses to get involved or continue with their gambling business.

If the government does not allow gambling to operate, it should be disclosed, but it should not create an environment where businesses cannot operate or close their businesses. That is, a favorable environment should be created for business. In some cases, it is seen that governments, although not directly opposing gambling, oppose it in behavior and this kind of behavior is much more problematic for the development of gambling platforms. Governments will impose taxes as they wish, which will become a big burden for those institutions.

If there is excessive taxation, there are some institutions, especially small institutions, that will lose their ability to compete. Platforms can impose additional taxes on gamblers to reduce the burden, especially they can reduce bonuses or collect taxes from gamblers. If governments increase revenue, the government will collect less than the amount of revenue it was supposed to collect, which will be a kind of loss for the government.

[nelson4lov]

At those that rates, I won't be surprised if the gambling activities in Malta dies off slowly in the coming years because not a lot of people will be happy to give off a part of their winnings for taxes especially if those winnings are harder to come by and after tons of losses. Taxes like that will make gambling even less enjoyable

[Dogedegen]

If the government does not allow gambling to operate, it should be disclosed, but it should not create an environment where businesses cannot operate or close their businesses. That is, a favorable environment should be created for business. In some cases, it is seen that governments, although not directly opposing gambling, oppose it in behavior and this kind of behavior is much more problematic for the development of gambling platforms. Governments will impose taxes as they wish, which will become a big burden for those institutions.

If there is excessive taxation, there are some institutions, especially small institutions, that will lose their ability to compete. Platforms can impose additional taxes on gamblers to reduce the burden, especially they can reduce bonuses or collect taxes from gamblers. If governments increase revenue, the government will collect less than the amount of revenue it was supposed to collect, which will be a kind of loss for the government.

There is nothing wrong with a government making a hostile environment for a certain type of businesses, and there is no such thing as an environment where you can't close your business so that does not make sense. You are not owed anything, you do not have the right to do whatever you want.

At those that rates, I won't be surprised if the gambling activities in Malta dies off slowly in the coming years because not a lot of people will be happy to give off a part of their winnings for taxes especially if those winnings are harder to come by and after tons of losses. Taxes like that will make gambling even less enjoyable

Every sensible country has taxes on winnings, some even have very high taxes and the gambling industry is working well in those places. Don't spread false information and look up the topic in detail. Actually many times these taxes are good as they take away money from people who can't handle it. Maybe it can be made progressive so small wins are always excluded, but taxes on winnings are a must and the bigger the win the bigger the tax. Most people attack rich people and claim they are evil or something, but they turn into even worse people after they score big. A tax on winnings limits the damage that inexperienced people can cause once they get a hold of a lot of money.

[el che]

This new tax only applies to revenue generated from players physically located inside Malta. Since the majority of MGA licensed operators target international players, their main global revenue remains unaffected by these changes. The new rates actually favor physical venues over local online gaming. The 15% tax specifically targets local online casino games and lotteries while landbbased casinos in Malta remain locked at the original 5% rate.

[Orpichukwu]

The government has decided to make profit but there is a risk that many companies like them will move to Gibraltar in my opinion, another place where there are many betting companies and online casinos.
I don't understand this move by the Maltese government, after all... it's a state with zero intelligence.

When businesses are no longer feeling comfortable where they are situated, they will have to move to where they will be much more appreciated. If the Malta government is more focused on how much they want to make from casino owners, they might end up losing the little revenue they where comfortably getting from those casinos because no body want to operates a business where most of their profit will go to the government when their are lot of expenses to settle.

[Aanuoluwatofunmi]

Going by the way of some of these regulations from the government in gambling, I don't think they are being considerate enough from this regard, to make it triple addiction is something too expensive to be able to afford, are they encouraging for full compliance over this regulation all the are trying to just frustrate gamblers and only few that we be able to afford such, things like these are what makes me have another approach to the way government behave.

[Grace333]

Going by the way of some of these regulations from the government in gambling, I don't think they are being considerate enough from this regard, to make it triple addiction is something too expensive to be able to afford, are they encouraging for full compliance over this regulation all the are trying to just frustrate gamblers and only few that we be able to afford such, things like these are what makes me have another approach to the way government behave.

They probably think that the casinos make a lot of money and affording it would not be a problem, they generate revenue from this but they aren't smart enough to know that increasing the gambling taxes might push most of these casinos away, I think their major problem here is just greed. They don't consider the fact that it's way too expensive and there's a possibility that they might most likely increase it subsequently.

[Makus]

15% tax on casinos that's very generous because casinos have a house edge so their revenue could easily grow especially if people in that country love to play casino games. Last year Malta's gambling industry contributed over €1 billion to the economy, so if they could maintain that level or increase it, the tax collections by the Maltese government could significantly increase. Possibly even doubling from €82.4 million.

Generous? I don't think this is what the casinos would see this as, it all depends on the capacity of the casino, new casinos would not be able to afford such rate which might lead to the casino shutting down. I think that the Malta government are considerate about the casinos in particular that they tax with such a high percentage. If the casinos are making more profits then it's okay for them to increase the tax rate but if this is otherwise then there's no point in them increasing because it's only going to affect other people's business.

[hedgeh0g]

Generous? I don't think this is what the casinos would see this as, it all depends on the capacity of the casino, new casinos would not be able to afford such rate which might lead to the casino shutting down. I think that the Malta government are considerate about the casinos in particular that they tax with such a high percentage. If the casinos are making more profits then it's okay for them to increase the tax rate but if this is otherwise then there's no point in them increasing because it's only going to affect other people's business.

It is likely intentional that many gambling businesses will be unable to withstand such a tax burden. It’s as if they are being squeezed for everything they’ve got, clearly, only a few will remain, at which point the Maltese regulators will exert full control over them and perhaps even lower the taxes. Furthermore, many will likely decide to relocate to other jurisdictions with a lighter tax burden, as surviving under these conditions will be extremely difficult, though not impossible. If I were an owner of such a business, I would move to a more favorable environment immediately.