The age rule almost nobody gets right
Malta operates a split that exists nowhere else in the European Union. In Malta's casinos a Maltese citizen must be 25 to play, the highest casino age we have found anywhere in the EU, while everyone else plays at 18. Most EU countries set 18; Belgium, Estonia, Greece and Lithuania set 21.
Online gaming is 18 for all, Maltese included.
The rule is in the Gaming Act itself, article 14, under the heading "Protection of minors", and it is narrower than most guides say. It covers only the casinos run under a government concession, so a Maltese 19-year-old can play in a gaming parlour or online but not in a casino. Its wording bars play rather than entry, though the MGA and the casinos treat 25 as the age to go in. The Act gives no reason. The history is on Parliament's record: in 1984 Malta barred its own citizens from playing in the island's casinos altogether, and in 1988 it lifted that restriction; the law has kept a higher age for citizens than for visitors ever since. Visitors are unaffected, but it is worth knowing before you assume a local friend can join you.
The ages, exactly
| Who | Casino | Gaming parlour | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitors and other non-Maltese | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Maltese citizens | 25 to play | 18 | 18 |
| Registered visitors on professional or academic business, not playing | 16 | 16 | – |
The third row is the part no guide carries. Article 9(3) of the Gaming Premises Directive (Directive 2 of 2019, in force since 1 February 2019) lets a casino or parlour admit visitors who are there on professional or academic business and will not play below the usual age, but never under 16, and only once it has recorded their name, age, identity document, times in and out and the purpose of the visit. A student on a study visit is not a gambler, and the rule says so.
Bring a passport or national identity card. Casinos check it at the door, and because the threshold depends on nationality the document is doing two jobs at once: proving your age and proving which age applies to you.
Why the MGA licence is everywhere
The Malta Gaming Authority licenses a very large share of the world's online gambling operators, and an MGA licence is one of the more recognised marks in the industry.
Malta built that position early, combining EU membership with a purpose-built regulatory regime, and the island now hosts a substantial iGaming industry. For a player the practical meaning of an MGA licence is a real complaints procedure and enforceable operator obligations.
Malta has four licensed casinos, by the MGA's count for 2025: Dragonara, Portomaso and Casino Malta in St Julian's, and the Oracle in Qawra, with 21 gaming parlours besides. Our St Julian's guide covers the resort where three of the four sit.
Cities covered
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the casino age in Malta?
18 for visitors and other non-Maltese. 25 for Maltese citizens to play in Malta's casinos, the highest casino age we have found in the EU; Maltese citizens can play in gaming parlours and online from 18.
Why is the casino age 25 for Maltese citizens?
The Gaming Act gives no reason; the rule sits in its article on the protection of minors. Malta barred its own citizens from playing in its casinos in 1984 and lifted that ban in 1988, and the law has kept a higher age for citizens since.
Can a 16-year-old enter a casino in Malta?
Only as a registered visitor on professional or academic business who will not play. The Gaming Premises Directive lets operators admit such visitors below the usual age, but never under 16.
Do tourists need ID to enter a casino in Malta?
Yes, a passport or national identity card. Because the minimum age depends on nationality, the document proves both your age and which age applies to you.
Are gambling winnings taxed in Malta?
Collected at the operator.
Who regulates gambling in Malta?
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).
When was this checked?
The ages against the Gaming Act and the MGA's directives on 12 October 2026, the rest against legal and regulatory sources in August 2026. Gambling law changes, so confirm before relying on it for anything significant.
Before you play anywhere
Two numbers travel better than any local rule. Our house edge entry explains why games that look alike are priced very differently, and true odds is the comparison that prices any bet in seconds.
Set a budget before you sit down. Our responsible gaming page covers deposit limits and self-exclusion.
The ages on this page were checked against the Gaming Act and the MGA's directives on 12 October 2026; tax treatment and regulators against legal and regulatory sources in August 2026. Gambling law changes and treatment differs between products and between recreational and professional players, so this is general information and not tax or legal advice. On a large result, take proper advice rather than a web page.