Malta Gaming Authority launches suspicious betting reporting consultation

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has launched a seven-week-long consultation on the implementation of suspicious betting reporting requirements by all B2C licensees.

Under the proposed new standards, licence holders must inform the MGA of “any circumstances which may lead to one or more bets being voided owing to suspicion of manipulation of a sporting event”.

Any instances are to be reported on the MGA’s suspicious betting reporting platform, a centralised database currently being created by the regulator.

Operators are required to also provide the MGA with any documentation relating to said circumstances to aid any investigation. These standards had previously formed part of the 2018 Malta Gaming Act but were not actively enforced due to the absence of investigatory resources required.

However, in August 2019 the MGA created a Sports Integrity Unit (SUI), expressly to maintain and enforce integrity standards in respect of licensees.

The SUI’s role consists of the gathering of intelligence and information relating to suspicious betting and serves as liaison with the national integrity platform that is being set up by the MGA and various local and international authorities.

The unit has already inked integrity-led data sharing deals with the International Cricket Council, Swedish Football Association, World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association and most recently the Darts Regulatory Authority.

The consultation will close on 15 July.