The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has published a consultation paper on suspicious betting reporting requirements and other sports integrity measures. 

The paper follows the establishment of the MGA’s Sports Integrity Unit on 29 August 2019, and is in preparation for the bringing into force of section 43 of the Gaming Authorisations and Compliance Directive (Directive 3 of 2018), together with other measures. 

The paper sets out definitions of sports and sporting events, the specific suspicious betting reporting requirements, the requirements for designated points of contact, what exactly constitutes ‘suspicious and/or irregular’ activity, and the reporting instrument to be used between B2C licensees and the Authority. 

Underlining the potential complexity of the sports integrity issue for regulators and operators, the MGA has acknowledged that it understands “that any action taken by the operator relating to suspicious bets, especially where customer winnings may be voided or withheld as related investigations take place, is likely to generate customer disputes.” And that it “understands that this scenario involves considerable administrative time and effort on behalf of arbitration bodies and operators, with some cases taking years to be completed whilst the relevant sports governing bodies, law enforcement or integrity unity conclude investigations into potential corruption.”

Feedback is now being sought from licensees regarding the proposed bringing into force of the Suspicious Betting Reporting Requirements, and other measures which the MGA intends to implement. 

You can read the full consultation paper here. 

Staying with the MGA and sports integrity, last week we reported the authority had established a data-sharing agreement with the World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association (WPBSA). 

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