St. Julian's is Malta's poker capital. Two casinos a short walk apart, a seafront full of hotels, bars and restaurants, warm weather well into autumn and an airport 15 to 30 minutes away make it one of the easiest poker trips in Europe.
In autumn 2026 both of its casinos run big festivals at the same time: the Malta Poker Festival at Portomaso Casino and the Battle of Malta at Casino Malta. This guide covers the two poker rooms, how to get there, where to stay and eat, and what to do between sessions.
Why St. Julian's is a great poker trip
- Two festivals, one town. You can play the Malta Poker Festival and the Battle of Malta on the same trip without changing hotel.
- Big guarantees at mid-stakes prices. Main Events start at €300 to €600, with guarantees of €1,000,000 and more.
- A real holiday. Late October is still warm enough for the sea, and the island is small enough for day trips to Valletta, Mdina and Gozo.
- English everywhere. English is an official language of Malta, so menus, signs and the tournament floor are easy.
The poker room at Portomaso Casino
Portomaso Casino sits at the foot of the Portomaso Business Tower, next to the Hilton Malta and Portomaso Marina. It has long been Malta's main live tournament venue and is the home of the Malta Poker Festival, which has run here since 2018.
Tournaments
The autumn 2026 Malta Poker Festival (October 23 to November 4) brings a €600 Grand Event with €1,000,000 guaranteed, a €390 IPS with €1,500,000 guaranteed and a €250 Mini IPS with €500,000 guaranteed, plus nightly satellites, PLO, mixed games and High Rollers. Every event on the schedule allows re-entry.
Cash games
The room is known for running cash games most evenings, mainly no-limit hold'em. Directory listings show stakes from €1/€2 up to €5/€10, with bigger games during festivals. Opening times and stakes change, so check with the casino before you plan a cash trip.
The poker room at Casino Malta
Casino Malta is inside the InterContinental Malta in St George's Bay, a short walk from the Paceville nightlife strip. It hosts the Battle of Malta, one of Europe's biggest mid-stakes festivals, which in 2026 also brought the first WSOP International Circuit stop to Malta.
Tournaments
The autumn 2026 Battle of Malta runs from October 27 to November 4, with a Road to BOM warm-up from October 23. Its Main Event guarantees €1,500,000 and has €600 and €300 Day 1 flights. Around it are a €450 Mystery Siege of Malta, a €1,100 High Roller with €300,000 guaranteed, the €5,200 MEGA Teddy High Roller and daily PLO. Casino Malta also runs monthly tournaments outside festival time.
Cash games
The poker club spreads no-limit hold'em cash games, which directory listings show from low stakes up to €2/€5, and it runs daily tournaments. Check current games and hours with the casino.
Getting to St. Julian's
Malta International Airport (MLA) is the only airport on the island, with direct flights from most European capitals and many budget-airline bases.
| From | Approx. time | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Airport by taxi or ride-hailing | 15 – 30 min | The easiest option with luggage; Bolt and Uber operate in Malta |
| Airport by express bus | 40 – 60 min | Cheap; Malta Public Transport runs airport express routes to St. Julian's |
| Valletta | 20 – 30 min | Taxi, bus or the ferry from Sliema |
| Between the two casinos | About 15 min on foot | Playing both festivals on one trip |
Times are approximate and traffic in St. Julian's can be heavy in the evening. Check current routes and timetables with the airport and Malta Public Transport before you travel.
Where to stay
Stay in St. Julian's and you can walk to both casinos. The Hilton Malta is next to Portomaso Casino and is the Malta Poker Festival's package hotel. The InterContinental Malta, which houses Casino Malta, and the nearby voco Malta are the Battle of Malta's official hotels. Spinola Bay, Paceville and neighbouring Sliema have plenty of cheaper hotels and apartments within a 10 to 20-minute walk. Book early: two festivals at once fill the town in late October.
Food and drink
St. Julian's has restaurants for every budget around Spinola Bay and Portomaso Marina, and Paceville stays open late. Try some Maltese classics between sessions:
- Pastizzi – flaky pastries filled with ricotta or peas, the island's favourite snack, for about a euro each.
- Ftira – Maltese bread filled with tuna, tomatoes, capers and olives.
- Stuffat tal-fenek – rabbit stew, the national dish.
- Lampuki – dolphin fish, in season in autumn, often baked in a pie.
- Cisk and Kinnie – the local lager and Malta's bitter-orange soft drink.
Things to do between sessions
- Valletta. Malta's compact capital, with St John's Co-Cathedral, the Upper Barrakka Gardens and harbour views; take the ferry from Sliema.
- Mdina. The walled "silent city" on a hill in the middle of the island, about 30 minutes away.
- Seafront walk. The promenade from Spinola Bay to Sliema is good for clearing your head after a long day.
- Boat trips. Catamaran cruises to the Blue Lagoon on Comino run into the autumn, weather permitting.
- Gozo. A full-day trip by ferry from Čirkewwa if you bust early or have a rest day.
Practical tips for poker players
- Bring ID. You need a passport or ID card to enter the casinos, and you must be at least 18.
- Plan for re-entries. Every Malta Poker Festival event allows re-entry, and many Main Event flights at both festivals run on consecutive days. Check each Battle of Malta event's rules with the casino.
- Mind the overlap. With both festivals running at once, check start times carefully before you plan a day across both casinos.
- Check tax rules. Tax on poker winnings depends on where you are resident; check with an adviser if you cash big.
Upcoming festivals in St. Julian's
- Malta Poker Festival – October 23 – November 4, 2026, at Portomaso Casino
- Battle of Malta – October 23 – November 4, 2026, at Casino Malta
- See all upcoming festivals
Frequently asked questions
Where are the poker rooms in St. Julian's?
Portomaso Casino is at the foot of the Portomaso Business Tower, next to the Hilton Malta and Portomaso Marina. Casino Malta is inside the InterContinental Malta in St George's Bay. Both are in St. Julian's, a short walk or taxi ride apart.
Which poker festivals are coming up in St. Julian's?
In autumn 2026 both run at the same time: the Malta Poker Festival at Portomaso Casino and the Battle of Malta at Casino Malta, both from October 23 to November 4.
What cash games run in St. Julian's?
No-limit hold'em is the main game. Portomaso has listed €1/€2 to €5/€10 NLH, and Casino Malta's poker club has listed games up to €2/€5. Stakes and hours change, especially during festivals, so check with the casinos.
How do I get from the airport to St. Julian's?
Malta International Airport is about 15 to 30 minutes away by taxi or ride-hailing app. Express buses are cheaper but slower.
What currency is used in Malta?
The euro. Plugs are the British three-pin type (G), and traffic drives on the left.
Cover photo: Spinola Bay, St. Julian's by Txllxt TxllxT, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Plan your Malta poker trip
