MGA reviews licensees’ suspicious sports-betting reports in Malta

The Malta Gaming Authority has published the findings of a thematic review of how licensed operators identify, assess and report potential integrity concerns in sports betting. The review was carried out under the MGA's risk-based supervisory approach and focused on licensees that had submitted few or no Suspicious Betting Reports since the related reporting obligations were introduced, according to the MGA.

Through supervisory meetings and checks, the authority assessed monitoring systems, internal escalation procedures, reporting arrangements and safeguards against potential risks to sports-betting integrity. The review found that a low number of reports did not necessarily indicate inadequate monitoring; in several cases it reflected proactive risk-management measures, including restrictive stake limits and the removal of events considered particularly vulnerable to possible manipulation.

The findings set out both good practices and areas for improvement. Positive examples included the use of real-time monitoring systems, effective cooperation between risk-management teams and regulatory compliance teams, and measures to prevent athletes and sports personnel from placing prohibited bets.

Areas identified for improvement were the need to document internal escalation procedures and reporting responsibilities clearly, to strengthen monitoring systems through adequate human oversight, and to promote a consistent understanding of reporting obligations. The MGA said the publication is intended to help licensees assess and improve existing procedures and to encourage adoption of the good practices identified in the review.

The MGA said it will continue to monitor progress through its supervisory activities and will take the review's findings into account in developing future guidance and setting supervision priorities.