Malta Gaming Authority Inks Data-Sharing Pact with Slovakian Football Association

The Maltese Gaming Authority (MGA) has inked a data-sharing pact with the Slovakian Football Association, the nation’s sports regulatory body.

This accord aims to streamline information sharing between the two organizations, guaranteeing adherence to sports betting regulations and upholding the integrity of Slovakian football.

Antonia Zerafa, MGA Sports Integrity Director, declared that this agreement augments the expanding list of data-sharing pacts with global partners in the sporting realm.

“We take pride in establishing ourselves as pivotal contributors to worldwide match-fixing probes through these agreements, and we aspire to furnish the same level of support to the Slovakian Football Association now,” she remarked.

Jakub Čavoj, Integrity Officer of the Slovakian Football Association, added, “I anticipate this agreement to be advantageous to both parties and aiding us in attaining our shared objective of safeguarding the integrity of athletic contests.”

“This information exchange could prove vital for evidence collection for both the Slovakian Football Association and law enforcement inquiries, as numerous betting firms favored in Slovakia possess Maltese gambling licenses.”

Exchanging knowledge and sharing methods is crucial to combatting match manipulation.

Last week, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) published data from its Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit. The data revealed that the quantity of suspicious transaction reports (STRs) received from online gambling operators more than doubled in 2019 compared to the previous year.

In 2019, there were 1,445 reports, a 106.4% increase from the 700 reports submitted in 2018. Three unnamed businesses were responsible for submitting 32% of all STRs in 2019, while another five businesses filed 35% of the reports. The remaining 33% of STRs were submitted by 72 organizations, with 29 online gambling operators filing one report each during the year.

The MGA’s Suspicious Betting Reporting Mechanism (SBRM) was introduced in November, enabling all MGA-licensed sports betting operators to report suspicious activity to the regulator’s dedicated sports integrity unit.

The SBRM is an effort by operators to ensure a smooth transition to regulatory changes that took effect on January 1, 2021, when operators became legally required to report suspicious betting activity.

Sign up for the iGaming newsletter.