Why Betting Giants Like Tipico and Bwin Are Moving to Malta

It is a trend I have been watching closely at Dr. Werner & Partners. More and more companies are setting up shop in Malta to run their online gambling operations from here. The online betting provider Tipico has been based in Malta for quite some time, and in 2014, their competitor (and former Real Madrid shirt sponsor, 2007–2013) Bwin followed suit. In the online gambling world, it seems all roads lead to Malta – and honestly, rightly so.

Tipico since 2004, Bwin since 2014

Tipico has been operating as a registered Malta Limited since 2004 -- the same year Malta joined the EU. From day one, the company banked on the significant tax advantages available in Malta. With more than 1,800 direct employees and over 6,000 in the franchise network, the company has grown into one of Europe’s largest sports betting providers. Its direct competitor, Bwin (now part of the Entain group), started operating in Malta in 2014. While their headquarters were originally in Gibraltar, they secured Maltese licenses for online casinos, online betting, and online poker.

Tipico's headquarters at the Portomaso Business Tower.

Why Malta? Lower Taxes and Accessible Licenses

The question I often get is: What makes Malta so attractive for gambling operators? In my experience, it comes down to two main factors.

First, Malta offers a fantastic platform for international entrepreneurs because the country has developed into a genuine hub for online and financial services. This is largely due to the government's business-friendly tax policy, which allows foreign shareholders to claim back a large portion of the corporate tax paid by a Malta Limited.

Second, obtaining a license to offer online gambling is actually feasible here. Compare that to countries like Germany, where getting a license is next to impossible. On top of that, the specific gaming taxes are much lower. For instance, the tax rate on sports betting in Malta is just 0.5%. In Germany? It is ten times that amount at 5%.

Many companies in the industry organize their business from Malta because both corporate taxation and gambling duties are far more reasonable here than in most other European countries. When you combine that with the equally low license fees, I expect Malta to continue developing as one of the primary jurisdictions for iGaming companies in the coming years.