IBIA inks integrity agreement with Malta Gaming Authority

The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) has signed an information-sharing agreement with the Malta Gaming Authority’s (MGA) Sports Integrity Unit (SIU).

The agreement, which comprises a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), will see the IBIA share data from its suspicious betting monitoring and alert platform with the MGA in their efforts to combat match-fixing.

IBIA member firms including bet365, GVC and William Hill provide sports betting data to the platform, monitoring for suspicious betting patterns which can then be shared by the IBIA with relevant sporting associations.

IBIA CEO Khalid Ali described the MoU as a welcome move which will allow both bodies to work collaboratively on integrity issues.

“For its part, IBIA will utilise its unique global betting monitoring system, which includes many of the largest MGA-licensed operators, to provide information on suspicious betting to the Unit with the aim of preventing sports betting-related corruption,” Ali added.

The SIU, first established in August, has the power to implement policies to combat match-fixing and investigate irregular and suspicious betting activity.

Speaking about the agreement, MGA sports integrity officer Antonio Zerafa cited the ability to sign agreements with other anti-corruption agencies like the IBIA as critical to the long-term objectives of the SIU.

“The MoU with the IBIA is of particular importance,” said Zerafa. “The IBIA and its members bring a wealth of market and consumer data that will undoubtedly serve to significantly strengthen the information and intelligence gathering ability of the Unit,” he added.

The MGA signed a similar data sharing agreement with the Maltese FA on 6 December.