Mauritius gambling regulator defends HRID pay amid scrutiny, cites operator-funded integrity model
The regulator says salaries are funded through an industry-backed integrity fund, not public money, following parliamentary and public scrutiny.
Mauritius.- The Mauritius Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) has defended the salaries paid to officers of its Horse Racing Integrity Division (HRID). The regulator said the compensation is financed through the Responsible Gambling and Capacity Building Fund (RGCBF), an independent fund financed by gambling operators rather than public money.
The GRA’s statement, issued on June 11, followed questions raised in Parliament and public debate over HRID remuneration. Mauritian media outlet r1_maurice reported that the issue was fuelled by a parliamentary question from MP Franco Quirin and social media discussion over salaries of senior officials within the division.
According to the regulator, salaries and allowances are funded through the RGCBF, which is intended to support integrity within the gambling sector. “These salaries and allowances are not financed by state coffers, but by this fund,” the GRA said.
It added that most HRID officers are employed as consultants on a contractual basis, with remuneration determined through individual negotiations. The regulator said recruitment processes followed principles of good governance and were approved by its Board.
The r1_maurice report added that documents obtained by MP Franco Quirin indicated that British racing expert Mark Blackman earns more than MUR400.000 (US$8.000-US$8.900) per month. The GRA said Blackman’s role combines Racing Specialist and Stipendiary Steward duties, and that his experience at the British Horseracing Authority was considered in his appointment.
High-risk industry justification
The GRA said gambling regulation carries heightened risks of corruption and money laundering, requiring remuneration structures that reflect the responsibilities involved. “The gambling industry is a high-risk sector in terms of corruption and money laundering,” it said.
The regulator also compared current remuneration levels with those under the former Horse Racing Division (HRD), noting that the previous Head of HRD earned more than MUR450.000 (US$9.000-US$10.000) per month. It said some current HRID salaries remain below those of the former system, despite what it described as a higher calibre of technical expertise among present officers.
The GRA added that HRID officers have helped restore confidence among the racing public after a period in which trust had declined, with wider economic and fiscal repercussions for Mauritius’ horse racing industry.
The regulator reiterated that its core mission is the protection of bettors and the integrity of the horse racing industry, and warned it would not be destabilised by attempts to damage its reputation.
