Date: 25.10.2024

by Adam Dworak

MGA and UKGC Strengthen Ties with New Memorandum of Understanding

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) have formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bolster collaboration on various regulatory matters, including tackling black market gambling. This partnership marks an effort to align their regulatory frameworks, facilitating more effective oversight and consumer protection across jurisdictions.

Focus on Intelligence Sharing and Market Insights

The UKGC recently adopted a new approach to assessing the UK gambling market, aiming to understand the scale and impact of unlicensed gambling.

The exchange of intelligence with the MGA will support this initiative by enhancing data sharing, which is critical in identifying and addressing illegal operators.

This partnership will enable both agencies to better shield consumers from potential gambling-related harm and illicit practices.

Global Movement Toward Regulatory Harmonization

The MGA-UKGC collaboration reflects a wider trend toward international regulatory cooperation.

Efforts are underway globally, as demonstrated by Australia’s engagement with Curacao to address unlicensed websites.

The MGA and UKGC’s new agreement aligns with such trends, seeking to protect consumers beyond national boundaries.

Statements from Industry Leaders

UKGC CEO Andrew Rhodes commented on the importance of this formalized partnership: “We welcome this agreement as a sign of our continued collaboration between the MGA and the GC. We’ve been working closely for some time now, and following our successful visit this summer, it is only fitting that we formalise our working relationship.”

Rhodes emphasized the UKGC’s commitment to tackling challenges such as illegal gambling, anti-money laundering (AML), and sports betting integrity through partnerships with global regulators.

MGA CEO Charles Mizzi echoed this sentiment, noting that the formal MoU builds on an established “informal collaboration” that has already yielded significant results.

“In line with our regulatory objectives, we are confident that such collaboration will allow us to address common challenges more effectively, allowing us to continuously improve on the effectiveness of our processes and framework,” Mizzi stated.