The Maltese Gaming Authority (MGA) has established a data-sharing pact with the Slovakian Football Association, the governing body for sports in that region.
This agreement will enable the exchange of information between the two entities to ensure adherence to sports betting regulations and safeguard the integrity of Slovakian football.
Antonia Zerafa, MGA Sports Integrity Director, stated that this agreement adds to a growing list of data-sharing agreements with international partners in the sporting arena.
“We are pleased that through these accords, we are positioning ourselves as key contributors to global match-fixing inquiries, and we hope to now offer the same level of support to the Slovakian FA,” she remarked.
Jakub Čavoj, Integrity Officer of the Slovakian Football Association, added: “I trust this agreement will prove highly beneficial for both parties and aid us in achieving our shared objective – to protect the integrity of sporting contests.”
“This exchange of information could be crucial for Slovakian FA and police investigations, as numerous betting firms popular in Slovakia hold Maltese gaming licenses.”
Disseminating best practices and knowledge sharing are crucial in the battle against match-fixing.”
The Maltese Gaming Authority recently unveiled data from its Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit, revealing a significant surge in suspicious transaction reports (STRs) from online gambling businesses in 2019.
The quantity of reports more than doubled from 2018, reaching a total of 1,445 in 2019. This signifies a 106.4% increase. Three unidentified companies were accountable for a substantial portion of these reports, submitting 32% of the overall total. Another five companies submitted 35% of the reports. The remaining 33% were filed by 72 distinct entities, with 29 online gambling operators submitting only one report each throughout the year.
The Maltese Gaming Authority introduced its Suspicious Betting Reporting Mechanism (SBRM) in November. This system enables all Maltese Gaming Authority-licensed sports betting operators to report suspicious activity directly to the regulator’s sports integrity unit.
The SBRM was established to assist operators in adapting to new regulations that came into effect on January 1, 2021. These regulations mandate operators to report suspicious betting activity.