The European Poker Tour (EPT) returned to Malta in February 2026, and once again the event drew Europe's finest poker players. Malta's PokerStars Live stop is one of the most prestigious live poker tournaments of the year – and one of Finnish players' favourite winter destinations, when the frost has Finland in its grip.
EPT Malta 2026 – Highlights
- Main Event – €5,300 buy-in, hundreds of entrants, prize pool over €1.5M
- High Roller – €25,000 buy-in, Europe's top-tier players
- Super High Roller – €50,000 buy-in, only a small elite field
- National Championship – €1,100 buy-in, well suited to amateurs and newcomers
- Mystery Bounty – the popular new format, €2,200 buy-in
- Pot Limit Omaha events – several buy-in levels from €550 to €10,000
- Side events – over 50 side tournaments, including Turbo, Hyper and Bounty events
Malta's casinos and poker rooms
EPT Malta is hosted at Casino Malta (Portomaso, St. Julian's), one of the best-known poker venues in the Mediterranean. Casino Malta lays on 35+ poker tables for the tournament week, and several other casinos nearby run cash games:
- Casino Malta by Olympic – the main sponsor's flagship venue and the official EPT tournament site. Modern tables, professional dealers, strong side cash-game action.
- Dragonara Casino – in Sliema, a slightly older but atmospheric casino. Ideal for those after a relaxed night's play.
- Portomaso Casino – small but high-quality, with good cash tables for Texas Hold'em.
- Oracle Casino – on the Qawra seafront, good at weekends.
The rooms typically run €1/2 NLHE as the lowest stake and even €25/50 high-stakes tables during tournament week, when the big players are in town.
Why is Malta a poker mecca?
Malta offers poker players the perfect combination: high-quality casinos, EU-grade security, favourable taxation on winnings (Maltese EU residents pay no tax on poker winnings), and excellent weather in February (18–22°C). The EPT Malta side events draw players from all over Europe, including Finland – usually around 50–100 players.
The island of Malta is compact – all the key spots are about 30 minutes from one another. St. Julian's and Sliema are popular accommodation areas with Finns, because the casino, the beach, restaurants and nightlife are all concentrated there. Flight time from Helsinki is about 4–5 hours (usually with one connection), and no visa is required.
Satellites to EPT Malta – the most efficient route into the tournament
Online satellites on PokerStars are a common way to reach the tournament cheaply. A satellite costing a few euros can win you a full package trip to Malta – flights, hotel and tournament seat included. PokerStars offers two kinds of satellite chains:
- Step satellites: $7 → $30 → $100 → $530 Main Event seat. Each level becomes the foundation for the next. Good if you want to manage variance in small chunks.
- Sunday satellites: $109 buy-in, with 10–30 seats awarded per week. One of the best routes if you already have a $100+ bankroll.
- Mega Path packages: $5,300 buy-in + $2,000 in travel value. Includes flights, hotel and all expenses.
- Spin & Go Max satellites – a 3-player hyper-fast format where the prize can be an EPT seat outright. Very high variance, but fast and entertaining.
Satellite strategy – what everyone needs to know
Satellite play differs significantly from a normal tournament. The goal is to survive to a seat – not to build the biggest possible stack. That changes optimal strategy radically:
- ICM governs the bubble: as you approach the seat line, a short stack moves into push/fold mode and a big stack can apply pressure quickly.
- The biggest stack doesn't win the seats: the highly non-linear prize distribution means the sixth-largest stack is almost as valuable as the first – as long as you secure a seat.
- Avoid needless all-ins with a big stack in front of you: a big stack can call lighter on the satellite bubble than you might think. Push only with premiums.
- Let short stacks bust: when someone goes all-in with a short stack, it's usually better to fold than to call – chip EV vs ICM EV are often very different.
Poker offers for the Finnish EPT player
A casino partnership is useful for running your poker – most Finnish poker players also want a casino or sports-betting option. It's worth making the most of offers especially over tournament weekend, when the side cash games are heavy and you need a reserve bankroll:
- EpicBet – 10% rakeback on sports, ideal as a complement to your poker volume. Curaçao + Estonian EU/EEA licence (tax-free).
- Poker-specific rakeback deals – PokerStars VIP Club Pro, GGPoker Fish Buffet and others offer 25–60% rakeback for high-volume players.
- Cashback casinos – Wildz, Respin – they help through the longer downswings.
Practical tips for the Malta trip
- Accommodation: the Hilton Malta Portomaso, the InterContinental St. Julian's or the Westin Dragonara are the most popular – within walking distance of Casino Malta. Book early; prices rise 50–100% during tournament week.
- Currency: the euro – no currency exchange. Bank card and Revolut work almost everywhere.
- Cash: carry €500–1,000 in cash for the side cash games – the casino ATMs typically charge €5 per withdrawal.
- Transport: Bolt taxis work well across the whole island and are an affordable option. Airport to St. Julian's is about €20.
- Food: there are hundreds of restaurants nearby – alongside fish and Mediterranean vegetables, the Italian influence runs strong.
- Tax back in Finland: poker winnings from within the EU are not taxable for a Finnish player – but do keep a record of income and expenses.
- Get the loyalty card (Casino Malta Player's Card): sign up as soon as you arrive – it gives you drink vouchers and food credit.
Summary
EPT Malta 2026 is Europe's best poker event of the winter months – the combination of high-quality poker, favourable taxation, a Mediterranean climate and a strong Finnish player community makes it an almost compulsory stop for the serious poker player. Via the satellites you can reach the Main Event for as little as a few euros, and the side events offer a suitable option for every bankroll. Plan your trip in advance, book your accommodation early, and remember that the bankroll needs managing just as carefully as the fluid you drink under Malta's hot sun.