The Malta Gaming Authority is releasing its Interim Performance Report for the period between January and June 2024, which may be viewed here. The report provides a review of the Authority’s accomplishments for the first half of 2024, together with a description of the Maltese gaming industry’s performance over the same period. The latter provides a medium-term outlook towards the future, as well as an analysis outlining important statistics for the land-based and online gaming industries.
Supervisory Activities
- As part of our process to assess applications, a total of 611 criminal probity screening checks were carried out on individuals, shareholders, ultimate beneficial owners, key individuals, and businesses from both the land-based and online gaming sectors. Applications of a more complex nature were escalated to the Fit and Proper Committee, which made 29 decisions. In seven cases, the Committee determined that the criteria to be considered as fit and proper were not met.
- The Supervisory Council reviewed 15 gaming licence applications, covering both applications to obtain a new gaming licence as well as to renew an existing licence, out of which two were rejected on the grounds that information or submissions made to the Authority with respect to such licence applications were found to be false, misleading, inaccurate, or materially incomplete.
- We received 11 applications for new gaming licences and issued eight licences. In addition, we have received a further seven gaming licence renewal applications from operators to renew their gaming licence which was bound to expire in 2024 and issued four licence renewals.
- We concluded 11 compliance audits and 49 desktop reviews. Furthermore, the Authority was notified by its licensees of 16 Technical – Information Security Incidents. Such licensees were investigated by the Authority to ensure that no licensed activity was adversely affected.
- The Commercial Communications Committee took six decisions regarding possible breaches of the Gaming Commercial Communications Regulations (S.L. 583.09).
- We also issued 20 warnings, 10 administrative penalties, suspended two licences and cancelled 8 licences. We also issued €128,800 in administrative penalties and three regulatory settlements amounting to €61,522.
- During this period, 13 AML/CFT Compliance Examinations were initiated by the FIAU or by us on its behalf. Furthermore, 23 such Compliance Examinations were concluded. During the same period, the FIAU imposed administrative penalties on three of our licensees amounting to just under €185,000.
- Interviews were conducted on 19 prospective MLROs and key persons carrying out AML/CFT functions to assess their suitability and knowledge of the Maltese AML/CFT legal framework.
- In our efforts to safeguard players and promote responsible gambling, we supported a total of 1,625 players who requested assistance (including spill-over from 2023) during the period under review.
- Furthermore, in our mission to continuously endeavour to safeguard player funds, during the reporting period we received 962 player funds reports and carried out 16 data extractions.
- We performed 12 responsible gambling themed website checks, and seven observation letters were issued to licensees outlining the responsible gambling issues and identifying areas of improvement. We investigated 10 cases of websites having misleading information and published nine notices on our website.
- During the reporting period, we executed 4,757 inspections on Gaming Premises (including Casinos and Commercial Bingo Halls), Controlled Gaming Premises, National Lottery Outlets, and non-profit tombola.
National and International Cooperation
- As part of our efforts in the fight against the manipulation of sports competitions by ensuring sports integrity, we received 162 suspicious betting reports from licensees and other interested parties. We shared 143 alerts on suspicious betting with licensees and participated in 11 investigations. Furthermore, we collaborated with enforcement agencies, sports governing bodies, integrity units and other regulatory authorities on 17 requests for information and participated in 23 instances of data exchanges.
- We received 35 requests for international collaboration from other regulators, and we sent 22 requests ourselves. The requests received were mostly related to background checks as part of authorisations processes, or requests for information about the local regime.
- We issued 28 official replies to provide feedback on the regulatory good standing of our licensed operators to the relevant authorities requesting this information.
- During the reporting period, we collaborated with local regulating authorities and governing bodies on 69 requests for information.
The MGA will publish a full-year industry performance report during the second half of 2025, when it publishes its Annual Report for the financial year ending 31 December 2024.