MGA inks data agreement with World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association
Maltese regulator teams up with professional snooker body on new integrity-led data deal
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has signed a data-sharing agreement with international snooker regulator, the World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association (WPBSA).
Under the terms of the agreement, the two regulatory entities will share data on betting patterns, with the aim of enhancing the integrity of the sport and preventing match-fixing internationally.
The WPBSA is responsible for the global development of both sports, and for the governance and integrity related to the sports. It also provides professional player support, as well as overseeing the development of coaches.
WPBSA vice chairman Nigel Mawer hailed the new integrity agreement as an “important step” in the fight against match-fixing in snooker.
“I am really pleased to have the support of the MGA, and the MGA’s Sports Integrity team in combating corruption in sport,” Mawer said.
The MGA has signed similar integrity-led data-sharing agreements with other international sporting regulatory entities, most recently inking a deal with the Swedish Football Association.
Its sporting integrity unit also has existing agreements with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA).
MGA sport integrity manager Antonio Zerafa said the” unprecedented times” of the Covid-19 crisis had led to a shift in focus from team sports to more individual sports, potentially magnifying match-fixing issues.
“Hence, this period proved to be a perfect example of how stakeholders of sports and sports betting integrity need to widen their horizons in terms of collaboration,” said Zerafa.
“Our recent data-sharing agreement with the WPBSA places us in a position to be able to also assist individual sports in their fight against corruption,” Zerafa added.