Malta consults on suspicious betting
The Malta Gaming Authority has invited feedback on proposed requirements to report suspicious or irregular betting on sporting events.
Malta.- The MGA has published a new consultation paper as it looks at introducing a set of reporting requirements that will oblige B2C licensees that offer betting on sporting events to inform the authority of any instance of suspicious or irregular betting.
Under the proposals licensees would be required to support any suspicious betting activity through the MGA’s online portal. They would also have to inform the authority of any circumstances leading to bets being voided owing to suspicion of manipulation of a sporting event and provide any supporting documentation that the authority may require.
The body is seeking feedback from stakeholders on the proposed mechanisms before bringing the requirements into force.
The proposed requirements were drawn up as part of measures created by the MGA’s new Sports Integrity Unit. It announced the creation of the unit in August 2019 to gather and investigate intelligence on suspicious or irregular betting activity and serve as a liaison between the island’s national platform, local and foreign regulatory authorities, law enforcement agencies, betting monitoring systems, sporting bodies and gaming operators
MGA CEO Heathcliff Farrugia said: “In consolidating perspectives of interested parties through public consultation, the Authority is better placed to implement effective and efficient regulatory processes around suspicious betting in the sports betting sector.”
The MGA has said that it is also interested in initiating a dialogue with B2B licensees to consider what their contribution towards sports integrity can look like in terms of detection and exchange of information with either B2C licensees, or the Authority itself.
The consultation document also underlines other areas of interest which the MGA’s Sports Integrity Unit will be looking into in the near future.
The consultation paper can be seen here.
