Comparison

MGA Malta vs Curaçao iGaming Licence — 2026

The classic choice: MGA Malta — full EU passport, premium reputation, expensive — vs Curaçao — cheaper, faster, but no EU passport and tighter banking options.

Option A

MGA Malta

Malta Gaming Authority · Malta

  • Application fee€5,000
  • Annual licence fee€25,000
  • Capital requirement€100,000
  • GGR tax rate0.5%
  • Setup time20 weeks
  • Term5 years
  • Local personnel requiredYes
  • Player-fund segregationRequired
Full MGA Malta page

Option B

Curaçao (post-LOK)

Curaçao Gaming Authority · Curaçao

  • Application fee€4,592
  • Annual licence fee€47,450
  • Capital requirement€0
  • GGR tax rate0.0%
  • Setup time14 weeks
  • Term5 years
  • Local personnel requiredYes
  • Player-fund segregationNot required
Full Curaçao (post-LOK) page

Decision context

Operators choosing between a credible EU-passport licence and an offshore licence that costs ~5x less. The right answer depends entirely on where your customers live.

Our take

MGA for any operator targeting EU residents seriously. Curaçao for any operator without EU/UK exposure where speed and cost-of-launch matter more than passport access.

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