Best Bitcoin & Crypto Casinos Malta 2024

The Best Crypto Casinos in Malta

The Mediterranean island of Malta has a long-standing reputation as a great place to gamble. The Malta Gaming Authority is a world-renowned organization within the industry. Any gambling platform that holds one of its licences is safe and reliable.

But what about the new world of crypto gambling? Casinos are rushing to get into the cryptocurrency market. They recognize that many crypto owners are looking for ways to utilise their digital currencies. In this guide, we’ll look at how crypto gaming works in Malta and pick out some of the top crypto casino sites. Check out our list of crypto casinos at the top of this page.

Malta: an online gaming heaven

Long before crypto casinos were a thing, Malta was a world leader in online gambling. This is a small country, with a population of little under 500,000. Malta has limited natural resources which forces them to be innovative in finding ways to bring money into the country.

That’s why, back in 2004, Malta was the first country in the EU to fully accept online gambling. Its Remote Gaming Regulations paved the way for Malta to become an international iGaming hub.

This was a huge deal. With a small resident population, Malta was not attractive to global gaming giants. However, by establishing itself as a globally recognized licensing authority, the country opened its doors to gambling platforms from all over the world. That’s why, despite its lack of resources, Malta ranked 29th in the world in terms of GDP adjusted for purchasing power parity, according to IMF figures from April 2022. With a GDP/PPP of $47,714 in 2021, the island nation placed higher than oil-rich Kuwait and the hi-tech economies of South Korea and Japan. Now, a couple of decades later, the rise of crypto gaming sees the Maltese authorities take the lead once more.

The story so far

Online gambling is a natural market for the crypto revolution. After all, the benefits associated with using crypto — such as fast, hassle-free transactions without third-party oversight — are likely to appeal to bettors. Using a crypto casino means your bank no longer gets to see the funds you deposit to gaming sites and eliminates that frustrating wait for your withdrawals to clear.

For these reasons, crypto gambling has quickly gained an audience. Back in 2014, Bitcasino.io became the first licensed crypto casino after obtaining accreditation from Curacao. That site, which is still in operation, looked to tap into a market where, in 2013, more than 50% of crypto transactions were related to gambling.

That burgeoning market prompted questions. How could crypto gamblers enjoy a safe and reliable experience without falling victim to scam sites? Malta, with its famously progressive approach to gambling legislation, was quick to take an interest. As early as 2018 it announced plans to integrate crypto and virtual currencies into its licensed gaming sector.

By 2019, the Malta Gaming Authority announced plans to accept applications from online gambling providers that wanted to use blockchain technology in their products. It also started looking at how online platforms could accept deposits and withdrawals of digital currencies. This was part of the Sandbox Regulatory Framework, specifically intended to encourage the safe use of crypto assets on MGA-licensed sites.

The MGA’s positive attitude towards crypto was threatened in 2021 when a cryptocurrency called ‘Malta Gaming Authority’ emerged. The authority was quick to deny any connection to the coin. This proved to be an isolated incident. Malta is still eager to ensure it stays at the forefront of crypto gaming.

The state of play

There are already several dedicated crypto casinos operating in Malta and the number looks set to keep growing.

Malta’s crypto casinos have many advantages for gamblers. The country has no restrictions on online gambling, in contrast with many of its EU neighbours. In addition, there are no taxes applicable to Bitcoin assets or other cryptos, so anything you win stays in your pocket. That means you don’t have to share your good fortune with the Maltese government unless you are making your money through crypto trading. The only rule most players need to be aware of is the legal age limit. Gambling is prohibited for under-18s.

What’s next for crypto gaming in Malta?

There is every reason to expect Malta to continue to promote itself as an international crypto hub. The Maltese government was among the first in the world to create a legal framework for crypto back in 2018. That legislation made the island a hugely attractive destination for the crypto business. It even persuaded the renowned Binance exchange to relocate to the Med.

Since then, crypto in Malta has gone from strength to strength. Although it is not legal tender, digital currency is widely accepted by businesses throughout the country—including gaming establishments. During a speech to the United Nations in 2018, Malta’s then Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced his vision to make his country “Blockchain Island”. Subsequent policy decisions point to a deliberate effort to make Blockchain Island a reality. Although Muscat resigned as PM in 2019, his successor, Robert Abela, continued along the same path.

The Malta Gaming Authority continues to accept licence applications from crypto-friendly gambling platforms. Whether it is a traditional site that wants to add crypto functionality or a brand new crypto-first offer, more choices are emerging for decentralised gaming. Crypto casinos seem to be embedded in the gambling landscape, and it is difficult to see why that would change in the foreseeable future.

Popular casino games in Malta

Malta’s crypto casinos offer everything you would expect from their traditional counterparts. The country has a long history of retail gaming, with the island’s oldest casino, the Dragonara, opening for business back in 1964.

There’s still a sense of glamour and decadence about the table games there. Malta’s online platforms attempt to replicate that with their takes on roulette, blackjack, baccarat and more.

Online slots are a big deal, and a good way to judge a casino is to see how many slot games it offers. The more, the merrier, especially when developers are continually updating their games to make them more exciting and potentially more lucrative.

Increasingly, online casinos have ‘game shows’. These work on the spin of a wheel and adopt themes inspired by Monopoly or Alice in Wonderland. Lookout for the chance to trigger bonus games and scoop big prizes.

Choosing the best crypto casinos in Malta

There are many casinos out there, so how can you find the best ones? It’s worth remembering that this is often a matter of personal taste. Your favourite might not be the same as the next gambler’s. However, some things are always worth looking out for.

Security

A reputable casino should have a licence from a respected regulator. In Malta, that usually means the Malta Gaming Authority. The authority only gives its approval to gambling platforms that support fair gaming and payout on their customers’ wins. It’s also important to make sure that the website itself is secure. This applies to registration processes, and also to internet security features that protect your personal and financial data on the site.

Range of crypto supported

Crypto is a fast-growing market, with new coins emerging all the time. The gaming industry does not always keep up. There are many Bitcoin casinos out there because it is still the biggest noise in digital finance. It’s a similar story with the likes of Ethereum. But if you are interested in a less prominent coin, you might need to look around to find a casino where you can play with it.

Promos

Casinos love to offer bonuses to new players. The best casinos also have ways to reward loyal customers when they come back for more. These bonuses can be profitable. You might get dozens of free spins on the slots, or a deposit match that adds free bets to your bankroll. However, it’s important to check the fine print. Many of these bonuses have wagering requirements and sometimes these are so big that it becomes almost impossible to turn the bonus into withdrawable funds.

Ease of use

This is perhaps the most subjective category. After all, the look and feel of a site might appeal to one person and not another. However, even here we can look at objective issues. Check out the customer support options in case you have a query. Does it respond quickly, and is it available 24/7? Is the cashier interface easy to use when you want to deposit and withdraw your funds?

Registering at a Crypto Casino

Interested in trying your luck at a crypto casino in Malta? Here’s a rundown of how to get started.

Create your account

Have a look through the recommended crypto casinos on our list, and see which ones you like. Once you’ve chosen the right casino for you to wager with your crypto assets, the next step is to set up an account.

Normally, this is a straightforward process. Often, crypto casinos need nothing more than an email address and a password to register you as a customer. Check out the bonus offers and make sure you understand how they work to ensure you get maximum value from your new account.

Depositing funds

The next step is to deposit funds. If you are used to regular online casinos, this will be a little different. Although it is a straightforward process, there are a couple of extra steps to consider.

First, get a crypto wallet. You’ll need this to hold your crypto assets and transfer them to your casino account. For complete crypto newbies, the easiest way to acquire digital assets is at a recognized exchange.

To make your deposit, go to the casino cashier. This will normally be easy to spot in one of the top corners of the screen. The cashier will provide an automatically generated unique address for your casino account. Copy this, or scan the QR code.

Now go to the crypto wallet and select ‘send’. Enter the amount you want to gamble and paste in the casino address if you copied it. If you scanned the QR code, your wallet should open automatically. Now you can send your chosen amount to the casino.

Start playing

The funds should be available immediately. Now, all you need to do is load up your favourite game and start playing as usual. Your balance will appear in the game, usually represented in dollars, euros, or other fiat currency, so you will always understand how big your bankroll is.

FAQs

Country	Malta
Best Crypto Casino	Bitstarz