ASSOCIATE OF PRIME MINISTER NAMED NEW CHAIRMAN OF MALTA GAMING AUTHORITY

Malta’s embattled gaming regulator, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), has promoted former Deputy Chairman Ryan Pace to the position of Chairman. 

Though, at the time of press, the MGA had not formally announced the promotion, it has updated the Board of Governors information on its official website. 

Pace had served as Deputy Chairman of the MGA since June 2020, when he was appointed shortly after Robert Abela became Prime Minister of Malta – despite apparently having no experience in the gaming industry. 

A lawyer by profession, Pace has served with Abela Advocates – the law firm of the current Maltese Prime Minister, Robert Abela – since securing his warrant in 2018. He studied at the University of Malta, obtaining a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) in 2014, a Diploma of Notary Public in 2015, and a Doctor of Laws degree in 2017. 

In addition to his close ties to the current Maltese Prime Minister, Pace is also an activist for the ruling Labour Party. Unsurprisingly, reports also say that those members of the Public Appointments Committee that are MPs for the opposition Natalionalist Party opposed Pace’s appointment. 

Despite Pace’s legal qualifications, some have also expressed reservations, pointing to his relative lack of industry-specific experience and knowledge. 

Independent Maltese news outlet, The Shift, quoted an unnamed “veteran gaming operator” as saying: “The appointment of someone who is a young graduate and has no experience in gaming does not increase the international respect that our jurisdiction has gained over the years.”

Another, again unnamed, operator is quoted as saying: “After leaving this important position vacant for more than six months, the best the government could come up with is an inexperienced young party loyalist. Surely, competence and knowledge of the industry were not the criteria used for this selection. Unfortunately, our industry is already under attack, and these partisan appointments are not getting us anywhere.”

In January, Dr Carl Brincat was appointed new Chief Executive of the MGA, following the departure of Heathcliff Farrugia – who is now facing criminal charges following an investigation into his links with disgraced business tycoon Yorgen Fenech

As previously reported, at the end of last month a body representing international gaming companies operating from Malta urged authorities in the tiny Mediterranean country to take “clear and decisive” action against corruption.

AYO.NEWS says:

With a snowballing corruption scandal rocking the Maltese political and business establishment, including the MGA itself, the regulator desperately needs to reassure the international gaming industry that it is competent and impartial. 

Of course, Malta faces its age old problem, in that in such a small country (its population is smaller than that of Sheffield), the choice for professional appointments is extremely limited, and almost every local will, by default, have connections to serving politicians or business interests. 

Still, promoting someone with such close links to the serving Prime Minister sure as heck won’t do anything to help allay suspicions of cronyism.