Grand Opening of Portomaso Casino: A new era for Malta’s iconic gaming venue
Portomaso Casino has officially entered a bold new chapter. Following an extensive refurbishment, the landmark venue in St. Julian’s has reopened its doors with renewed ambition, elevated design and a clear vision for the future of poker and casino gaming in Malta. As the home of Malta’s top poker events and a key stop on the SiGMA Poker Tour (SPT), Portomaso is now better equipped than ever to host international tournaments, recreational players and high-profile networking events.
Every corner of the casino has been reimagined to enhance comfort, flow and atmosphere. Modern lighting, upgraded tables, refined layouts and improved player-focused features create a space that balances elegance with the unmistakable energy of Malta’s poker scene. The reopening signals Portomaso’s readiness to host bigger events, deeper structures and a truly international audience.
Malta takes centre stage
The Grand Opening celebrations reach their peak with the launch of the Diamond Poker Series, running from January 16-26, 2026. This 11 day festival inaugurates the newly upgraded poker room and sets a new benchmark for live poker in Malta, featuring an unprecedented €5,000,000 in guaranteed prize pools, the largest ever offered at Portomaso Casino.
As Jesmond Galea, COO of Tumas Gaming, explains, “It’s more than a refurbished casino, it’s a new era for Portomaso. Our casino comes strengthened, with a future-focused operation built on decades of expertise and a truly driven team. Our commitment to delivering top-tier events continues to grow, and in 2025 we hosted the island’s most extensive calendar of local and international tournaments. With a year-round poker room and a schedule packed with major series, Portomaso firmly stands as the home of poker and casino games in Malta.”
A major highlight of the refurbishment is the introduction of a dedicated TV feature table, where final tables of the Malta Poker Festival and the €10,000 Diamond Championship will be broadcast. This upgrade places Portomaso firmly on the international stage, offering players a true showcase experience.
Jonathan Micallef, General Manager of Portomaso Casino, shared the significance of the moment, “The Portomaso Grand Opening signals the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Portomaso Casino. After the outstanding growth of the Malta Poker Festival and the strength of our international partnerships, we are taking a major step forward with a significantly upgraded poker product, including a dedicated TV table experience. We are proud to introduce a record-breaking series with a €5,000,000 guaranteed prize pool, the largest ever offered at Portomaso and we cannot wait to welcome our partners and players to be part of this milestone.”
SiGMA Poker Tour
Adding further momentum to Portomaso’s new era is its growing relationship with the SiGMA Poker Tour (SPT). After a successful SPT stop at Portomaso in September 2025, the Malta edition of the SiGMA Poker Tour will once again be hosted at the casino in 2027, aligning perfectly with the venue’s upgraded facilities and global outlook. A stand alone event is also in the works for this year.
The SiGMA Poker Tour blends recreational poker with high-level networking, bringing together industry leaders, operators, affiliates and poker enthusiasts in a relaxed yet high-impact environment. As part of the renowned SiGMA Summits, each stop transforms the poker floor into a hub of connection, conversation and opportunity, all while delivering top-quality tournament action. With four destinations planned for 2026 and over 500 players expected per stop, SPT’s return to Malta reinforces Portomaso’s position as a top meeting point for the global gaming community.
Stay tuned as SiGMA Poker Tour enjoys the new era of Portomaso Casino this 2026, marking another exciting chapter in a partnership built on community and world-class poker.
