Land-Based Regulatory Regime – FAQs

Non-Profit Games, Commercial Communications and Limited Commercial Communication Games are all classified as Low Risk Games.

A permit is valid only for a singular event, it expires once the event is concluded and is non-renewable, and also non-transferable.

A de minimis game is one with a maximum stake of €1 and a maximum prize of €100.

No,  a de minimis game is an exempt game and does not require a permit.

Up to two de minimis games per month can be organised without a permit. However, throughout a calendar year these are not to exceed in total, ten games.

A person or entity would need to apply for a Limited Commercial Communications Games Permit.

All non-profit organisations that wish to organise a lottery or tombola event are required to apply for a non-profit game permit.

The maximum stake cannot exceed €5 per player.

Not less than 90% of the net proceeds need to be paid out to the non-profit organisation to qualify as a non-profit game, and an updated Statute of the non-profit organisation needs to be submitted.

A non-profit entity can apply for a non-profit game permit via the MGA portal https://portal.mga.org.mt/Home/ or by downloading the form from https://www.mga.org.mt/downloads/.

A Non-Profit Game permit costs €25.

No, there are no refunds for non-profit tombola.

A Commercial Communication Game is a game organised with the purpose to promote or encourage the sale of goods or services.

Commercial Entities/Companies interested in organising a lottery to promote a good or service.

Any single event that is covered by a Commercial Communication Game permit is not to award a prize that exceeds €50,000.

Commercial Communication Games are not to cumulatively exceed €100,000 in prizes during any calendar month and not more than €500,000 during any calendar year.

A stake price is not permitted when applying for a Commercial Communication Game permit.

An entity can apply for a Commercial Communication Game permit via the MGA portal https://portal.mga.org.mt/Home/

A Commercial Communication Game permit costs €25 or 0.5% of the total monetary or retail value of the prize, whichever is higher.

A Limited Commercial Communication Game is a game that includes a stake and a prize.

Persons or Entities interested in organising a tombola or lottery.

For the game to qualify as a Limited Commercial Communication Game the value of the stake cannot exceed €2 per player.

Any single event shall not award a prize that exceeds €250.

Limited Commercial Communication Games shall not cumulatively exceed €5,000 in prizes during any calendar month and not more than €50,000 during any calendar year.

An entity can apply for a Commercial Communication Game permit via the MGA portal https://portal.mga.org.mt/Home/.

A Commercial Communication Game permit cost €25.