Malta vs Netherlands
Both are EU regulators, but they serve opposite roles. Malta's MGA is a base-of-operations hub with 10-year licences and 5% gaming tax on Malta-player revenue only. The Netherlands (KSA) is a national market you enter to serve Dutch players, taxing GGR at 37.8% from January 2026, banning untargeted advertising and running the CRUKS register.
Key differences
- Role: Malta is a hub for serving multiple markets; a Dutch licence is required specifically to serve the Netherlands.
- Tax: Malta 5% on local-player GGR; the Netherlands 37.8% of GGR plus a levy of around 1.95%.
- Advertising: Malta sets EU-level rules; the Netherlands bans untargeted advertising.
Malta suits operators building an EU hub to serve markets outside the Netherlands.
Full Malta profile →You need a KSA licence specifically to serve Dutch players, at a much higher tax.
Full Netherlands profile →Common questions
How is online gambling taxed in Malta compared with Netherlands?
Malta: 5% gaming tax (base: Gaming revenue (GGR) from Malta-based players only). Netherlands: 37.8% of GGR (kansspelbelasting), in force since 1 January 2026 (base: GGR).
Who regulates online gambling in Malta and Netherlands?
Malta is regulated by Malta Gaming Authority (MGA); Netherlands by Kansspelautoriteit (KSA).
Which has the longer licence term, Malta or Netherlands?
Malta: 10 years. Netherlands: Up to 5 years.
More head-to-heads
Sources (10)
Figures drawn from the Malta and Netherlands profiles · verified 2026-08-08
Not legal or tax advice. This is a neutral teaching comparison; confirm every figure against the primary regulator (Malta Gaming Authority; Kansspelautoriteit) before relying on it. 18+.