Malta and esports: How this island became a hotspot for top Counter-Strike tournaments
When people think of major esports hubs, cities like Los Angeles, Berlin, and Seoul usually top the list. But in recent years, a surprising new contender has emerged — Malta. This small island nation, tucked away in the heart of the Mediterranean, has transformed itself into a go-to destination for high-profile esports tournaments.
So why Malta? What’s drawing elite teams, tournament organizers, and millions of viewers to its shores? In this feature, Esports Charts breaks down how Malta built a thriving esports ecosystem from the ground up.
Introducing Malta
Not exactly a geography buff? Here’s a quick refresher: Malta is a small island nation in the Maltese archipelago, located in the heart of the Mediterranean between Sicily (Italy/Southern Italy) and North Africa. It spans just 316 square kilometers and is home to a population of a little over 550,000 people. Despite its compact size, Malta hosts some of the world's largest Counter-Strike tournaments, featuring prize pools worth millions of dollars each year.
Malta / Photo: Adobe Stock
You might be asking yourself: how did Malta become such an appealing destination for esports? Well, there are several reasons why.
Government support
The Maltese government has been actively fostering digital industries, including gaming and esports. In 2019, Malta began branding itself as the gaming and esports hub of the Mediterranean by launching a government-backed initiative, the Malta’s Vision for Video Games Development and Esports. This plan aimed to boost esports on the island by attracting international tournaments, investing in infrastructure, and creating new jobs within the industry.
The strategy is carried out by GamingMalta, an organization founded with backing from the Ministry of Economy. GamingMalta offers full support — including logistics and infrastructure — to tournament organizers, studios, and esports teams visiting the island. Additionally, gaming and esports companies benefit from consulting services and subsidies provided by the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA).
To make this strategy possible, the island has streamlined business registration processes, now taking only 5 to 10 days. While the official corporate tax rate is 35%, Malta’s refund system can reduce the effective tax rate to as low as 5 to 10%. Startups and IT companies can also take advantage of extra incentives through Malta Enterprise. Plus, as an EU member, Malta-registered companies enjoy access to the European market and benefit from unified legal standards.
In 2021, under the Malta’s Vision for Video Games Development and Esports initiative, GamingMalta teamed up with ESL, making Malta the official host for the ESL Pro League — one of the premier Counter-Strike leagues. More recently, GamingMalta secured a multi-year deal with BLAST, another leading tournament organizer. This partnership features a cutting-edge studio and a central hub for esports action right on the island.
Tourism efforts also support the growth of Malta’s esports scene. Organizations like Visit Malta and the Malta Tourism Authority actively promote local tournaments through their marketing campaigns.
One crucial factor is Malta’s gambling-friendly legislation — something that sets it apart from many other European countries. This is especially important since betting companies are often major sponsors of esports teams and tournaments.
Travel and infrastructure
Malta offers plenty of perks that tournament organizers appreciate. With its mild climate all year round, the island attracts visitors not just for competition but also for relaxation. Many esports players use Malta as a place to combine bootcamps with vacations.
Beyond the weather, several other factors make Malta an attractive esports destination. The island boasts a high level of safety and an English-speaking environment, making communication smooth for all visitors. Its compact size means travel between the airport, arenas, and hotels takes only 15 to 30 minutes, cutting down on logistics costs for organizers and teams alike. This combination makes Malta ideal for extended stays and work.
Malta also prides itself on having high-speed internet available island-wide, supported by several local providers (Melita, GO, and Epic) who offer competitive corporate plans and rates. This ensures that live broadcasts can be streamed in top quality.
Another key advantage is Malta’s reputation as a popular tourist destination. Because of this, visa and travel document procedures for foreigners are usually hassle-free. Many nationalities don’t require a visa at all or can get one easily upon arrival.
Tournaments
Malta may not yet match the volume or variety of esports tournaments seen in countries like the US, Germany, or France. However, the number of events hosted on the island is quickly increasing. Most tournaments are held at the InterContinental Arena Conference Centre in St. Julian’s, which also houses Eden Esports’ headquarters — a leading esports organizer in Malta.
In 2018, Malta hosted SuperNova Malta, one of the island’s first major Counter-Strike tournaments, with a $150,000 prize pool. The event featured prominent teams like Virtus.pro, Gambit Esports, BIG, HellRaisers, and more. Team Liquid took the championship, riding a wave of peak performance as they made their historic run toward the Intel Grand Slam.
In 2019, Malta hosted the Champions Cup Finals — the final stage of the tournament organized by Eden Esports and GRID — with a $300,000 prize pool. The German team BIG took home the grand prize. Following that, the organizers launched the European Development Championship, a series aimed at academies and up-and-coming teams.
A key step in the region’s esports growth was the Malta Vibes series — online and offline tournaments organized by Eden Esports in partnership with GamingMalta. These events mainly focused on Tier-2 and Tier-3 teams from Europe and the CIS. Essentially structured as bootcamps culminating in LAN finals, these tournaments have seen winners such as Entropiq, Team Spirit, forZe, and more.
Naturally, the ESL Pro League deserves a mention as one of the longest-running professional Counter-Strike leagues, operated by ESL for over a decade. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Malta has become the league’s home base, hosting six seasons so far with over $4.4 million awarded in total prize money.
The ESL Pro League events in Malta draw strong livestreaming audiences. For instance, Season 20 peaked at 819,850 concurrent viewers. These numbers can vary quite a bit from season to season, depending largely on the grand final matchup.
Thanks to the ESL Pro League series, Malta has welcomed top Counter-Strike teams like Natus Vincere, FaZe Clan, HEROIC, G2 Esports, and more. All of this has unquestionably boosted the island’s standing in the European esports arena.
While Malta is best known among esports fans for its Counter-Strike tournaments, the island has also hosted plenty of events for other popular games. These include Call of Duty, Tekken 7, Rainbow Six Siege, EA Sports FC, Fortnite, Dota 2, Valorant, League of Legends, F1 Sim Racing, and more.
What benefits does Malta gain from developing esports?
Malta reaps plenty of benefits from its esports initiatives. Traditionally reliant on tourism, the island experiences a busy summer season but slows down in spring and fall. To balance this, Malta has been actively developing its MICE tourism sector (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions), with esports events fitting in seamlessly. The ESL Pro League, for instance, is scheduled during spring and fall, aligning perfectly with Malta’s off-peak tourist seasons.
GamingMalta reports that Malta generates approximately $1.2 to $1.5 million in direct revenue from hosting a single season of the ESL Pro League. This includes hotel accommodations, transportation rentals, logistics, catering, and other services used by organizers, players, casters, technical staff, and fans.
Additionally, the island brings in around $2.5 to $3 million in indirect income through media, advertising, tourism, and related sectors. Put simply, esports events provide a crucial boost to local businesses during the slower periods between peak tourist seasons.
Esports is also helping Malta reshape its image — from a popular beach getaway to a thriving digital hub in the Mediterranean. Beyond esports, the island is placing strong emphasis on game development. Malta is actively positioning itself as a tech center — an innovation-friendly, secure environment for startups and IT businesses.
Malta is also committed to nurturing local talent in these industries. The government encourages specialized programs at universities and colleges; the University of Malta offers courses in game design, digital media, and creative technologies, while the Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology (MCAST) provides programs in game development, streaming, and video production.
Additionally, GamingMalta runs educational initiatives like hackathons, esports camps, and expert-led masterclasses. The goal is to develop a strong pool of homegrown analysts, producers, event organizers, commentators, and support professionals.
Malta’s journey in esports shows how even a small country can achieve big things with a strategic approach. With strong government support, investments in infrastructure, and a smart blend of tourism, technology, and education, the island has become a key player on Europe’s esports stage. And with new partnerships with ESL and BLAST, it’s clear this is only the beginning.
Detailed Esports data at your fingertips.
Subscribe to & start exploring!
