The Gaming Malta Board said the swift action taken by the Malta Gaming Authority against operators who are being investigated by Italian authorities is a clear message that illegality and abuse will not be tolerated.

This statement was issued this morning in view of the news reported over the past week relating to alleged organised crime in which a number of remote gaming operators, some of which are licensed both in Malta and Italy, are involved.

One of the principal objectives of gambling regulation is to keep this industry free from crime, the board said. In order for this objective to be reached it is imperative for regulators to properly vet licence applicants and that quick action is taken when foul play is identified.

In 2004 Malta was the first European Union member state to adopt regulations specifically governing the provision of gaming via means of distance communication. Though those regulations are now over a decade old, they contain a solid set of provisions which govern the process to be followed by the Malta Gaming Authority when licensing remote gaming operators. Over the years Malta has established itself as a leading jurisdiction for remote gaming also as a result of the high level of evaluation and compliance which the MGA expects from operators which it licenses.

The fact that the MGA acted swiftly to suspend the licences of those operators against which Italian authorities have brought some very serious charges is a clear message that illegality and abuse will not be tolerated and that Malta expects the highest levels of compliance from operators licensed here, the board said. In this context, Gaming Malta supports the actions taken by the MGA to maintain Malta’s reputation as a trustworthy and leading licensing jurisdiction.

We understand that investigations are still underway, which we hope will shed more light on the facts and which will help regulators and law enforcement agencies now and in the future. The fact that action was taken against operators suspected of involvement with crime, has also been welcomed by the industry, which prefers to operate in a jurisdiction where compliance and high-standing are a prerequisite.

There is no doubt that we need to consistently continue raising the bar in order to be market leading, innovative, robust, effective and respected. We need to appreciate where we can improve whilst working together as an industry. We need to see what threats lie ahead and devise strategies and plans which will see us mitigate such threats and potentially transform these into opportunities.

Like any organization which experiences exponential growth within such a short period of time, all relevant stakeholders and authorities which today serve the iGaming sector in Malta, must evolve and adapt to the challenges such growth brings about. Whilst ongoing probity and due diligence checks and monitoring serve to ensure crime is kept out of gambling, the industry as a whole is encouraged to remain vigilant to ensure Malta’s reputation as a “home” to gaming is not threatened. Certainly the events of the last week should not overshadow the significant contribution which Malta has given over more than a decade to the better regulation of remote gaming in Europe and worldwide.