United Kingdom vs Malta
These solve different problems. The UK Gambling Commission is a point-of-consumption regulator: any operator serving Great Britain needs a UKGC licence wherever it is based, and pays 40% Remote Gaming Duty from April 2026. Malta's MGA is a base-of-operations licence for serving other markets, with 10-year terms and 5% gaming tax on Malta-player revenue.
Key differences
- Purpose: a UK licence is required to serve Great Britain customers; a Malta licence is a hub base for serving markets that accept it.
- Tax: UK Remote Gaming Duty is 40% of gross gaming yield; Malta charges 5%, and only on Malta-based players.
- Compliance: the UK mandates GAMSTOP, stake limits and affordability checks; Malta sets its own EU-level requirements.
You need a UKGC licence whenever you take customers in Great Britain, regardless of your base.
Full United Kingdom profile →Malta suits operators building an EU-based hub to serve multiple markets outside Great Britain.
Full Malta profile →Common questions
How is online gambling taxed in United Kingdom compared with Malta?
United Kingdom: 40% Remote Gaming Duty (from 1 April 2026; previously 21%) (base: Gross gambling yield / gross gaming profits (stakes received minus winnings paid)). Malta: 5% gaming tax (base: Gaming revenue (GGR) from Malta-based players only).
Who regulates online gambling in United Kingdom and Malta?
United Kingdom is regulated by Gambling Commission (UKGC); Malta by Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).
Which has the longer licence term, United Kingdom or Malta?
United Kingdom: Open-ended (no fixed term; annual fees payable). Malta: 10 years.
More head-to-heads
Sources (16)
Figures drawn from the United Kingdom and Malta profiles · verified 2026-08-08
Not legal or tax advice. This is a neutral teaching comparison; confirm every figure against the primary regulator (Gambling Commission; Malta Gaming Authority) before relying on it. 18+.