Malta Sets Its Sights on Becoming a Global Esports Hub

BLAST Premier is a professional Counter-Strike (CS:GO and now CS2) tournament series run by the Danish esports entertainment company BLAST ApS.

It’s synonymous with top-tier Counter-Strike tournaments and is celebrated for its slick production, major event hosting and influence on the professional esports scene. Esports fans fell in love with its adrenaline-fuelled live events featuring huge prize pools and innovation in broadcasting.

 BLAST Positions Malta as an Esports Hub

Malta is set to become a major player on the global esports stage following the announcement of a groundbreaking partnership between competitive entertainment leader BLAST and GamingMalta, an independent non-profit foundation set up by the Maltese government and the MGA.

The newly announced collaboration will host a range of Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) and Dota 2 events on the island. With the recent greenlighting of gambling sponsors, the Malta announcement comes at the perfect time.

BLAST CEO Robbie Douek expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, commenting on the momentous partnership with GamingMalta, saying:

Quote

Our partnership with GamingMalta makes a major milestone for BLAST, having secured a multi-year partnership to elevate esports and gaming in Malta.  We are excited to bring live output, a new studio and competitive entertainment to the island.  We are excited by the government's vision on all the gaming fronts, and our partnership will continue to fuel this ambition.

The agreement will see Malta host nine major esports events, including the highly anticipated BLAST Premier Bounty Series 2 in August, and serve as the permanent site for a new 1,000-square-meter esports studio and state-of-the-art operations hub.

The facility will enable cutting-edge content production and serve as a base for international broadcasts, positioning Malta as a serious contender in the global esports landscape, rivalling high-octane esports events hosted in iconic locations such as London, Rio, and Singapore. As BLAST expands its international footprint, a Brazilian esports event could even be on the cards.

 Knock-On Benefits of BLAST Deal

In addition to hosting top-level Counter-Strike competitions, the partnership aims to deliver tangible benefits to Malta’s digital economy and local community through collaborations with universities, grassroots organisations and talented individuals.

The BLAST-GamingMalta alliance will support career opportunities in esports, covering chosen pathways in content creation and broadcasting via the existing BLAST.TV infrastructure, event management and competitive play.

Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects, Silvio Schembri, commented:

Quote

This partnership aligns perfectly with the government of Malta's Vision 2050, which puts youth, innovation, and the creative economy at the centre of our strategy.

This partnership aligns perfectly with the government of Malta's Vision 2050, which puts youth, innovation, and the creative economy at the centre of our strategy.

 Get in on the Esports Action

If you would like to try your hand at esports betting, be sure to check out these trusted multi-product gambling sites:

• Bet365 Casino: Join today to receive a generous welcome bonus and bet on popular esports like DOTA2, Counter-Strike 2, and League of Legends. They also offer entertaining online slots and crash games to tide you over between events.
• 22Bet Casino: Grab your sign-up bonus and back your favourite teams as they compete in Valorant, DOTA 2, and CS:GO tournaments. The site also boasts a wealth of progressive jackpot and live dealer games.
• Stake Casino: This global Bitcoin gambling site offers esports betting for FIFA, eCricket, and NBA, in addition to CS:GO and other popular shooter games. You can also enjoy weekly raffles and other crypto-friendly promotions.

For even more world-class online casino entertainment, check out our recommended providers and their selection of bonuses and promotions.