Meridianbet, a division of Golden Matrix Group Inc., has through the acquisition of Fairbet Ltd. finished extending its retail footprint in Malta as part of its overall strategy in iGaming, and land based sectors. Fairbet is a local retail gaming operator licensed by MGA and holds the B2C/195/2011 license.
The agreement gives Meridianbet full control of the operation of Fairbet in Malta and Gozo, the second largest island of the archipelago. Through the transaction, nine retail locations are donated to the present Meridianbet portfolio, hence the total number of storefronts in the market goes up to 20. The newly improved network is expected to accommodate more than 60 sports betting terminals and over 120 slot machines, thus reinforcing Meridianbets retail presence beside their iGaming business.
Meridianbet and Fairbet were working together through a technology partnership which after the acquisition, will change to a full operational integration. Once the takeover is completed and the firm will have fully assumed the daily operations and compliance of the retail business, Fairbet’s retail operations will be rebranded to Meridianbet.
Malta’s retail gaming market is subject to a tough regulatory regime and the Malta Gaming Authority supervises it. Currently, there are only three operators who have been issued retail licenses in the country: Meridianbet, Izibet which is the operator of the national lottery, and Fairbet. Upon the acquisition, Meridianbet will be the sole operator out of the three having two retail licenses in Malta, therefore it is evident that very few players are allowed within the framework.
The Maltese market is known for its stringent licensing, capital, and compliance requirements not only for retail operators but also for iGaming ones. These regulations have, over time, kept new players at bay and allowed existing license holders to merge. Meridianbet is a licensed player in Malta since 2008 and it is one of the first regulated operators in the jurisdiction.
The acquisition is in line with Meridianbets stated strategy of combining organic growth with selective mergers and acquisitions in regulated markets where both the structural and regulatory environments are favorable to consolidation. The group still considers Malta as a vital operational hub from which the retail network as well as the wider iGaming business can be effectively supported.
Meridianbet, through its network of stores spread all over Malta and Gozo, is capable of delivering its services to the doorstep of not only local customers but also international visitors. The National Statistics Office of Malta revealed that the Mediterranean island had received more than 3 million tourists in 2024, which is one of the factors that retail gaming continues to exist together with iGaming in a market that is both tourist and cross border friendly.
Zoran Milosevic, CEO of Meridianbet said:
Completing the acquisition of Fairbet strengthens our position in a market where regulatory barriers create inherent scarcity value. The transaction will enable us to expand our operations and retail infrastructure in Malta, with our technology serving the majority of licensed retail gaming in the country. The deal also demonstrates our strategic M&A approach – targeting acquisitions in high-barrier markets with limited licensing to create structural competitive advantages.
