Malta Gaming Authority reviews sports betting integrity reporting practices

The Malta Gaming Authority has published the findings of a thematic review examining how authorised persons identify, assess and escalate potential sports betting integrity concerns, the regulator said.

Focus on low reporting volumes

The review focused on authorised persons that had submitted few or no suspicious betting reports since the introduction of the relevant reporting requirements, according to the MGA. Through supervisory meetings and reviews, the regulator assessed the monitoring systems, internal escalation procedures, reporting arrangements, and safeguards in place to address potential sports betting integrity risks.

Key findings

The review found that low reporting volumes were not necessarily indicative of inadequate monitoring, the MGA said. In several cases, they reflected proactive risk management measures, including restrictive betting limits and the removal of events considered particularly vulnerable to manipulation.

Examples of good practice included the use of real-time monitoring systems, effective collaboration between risk and compliance teams, and safeguards aimed at preventing athletes and sports personnel from engaging in prohibited betting activity, the regulator said.

Areas for improvement

Areas for improvement included ensuring that internal escalation procedures and reporting responsibilities are clearly documented, strengthening monitoring arrangements through appropriate human oversight, and promoting a consistent understanding of reporting obligations, according to the MGA.

The regulator said it will continue to monitor progress through its ongoing supervisory work and will take the findings of this review into consideration when developing future guidance and supervisory priorities.