MGA Publishes New Recommendations on Sports Betting Integrity Controls
Malta.- 29 October 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has published the findings of a thematic review assessing how licensed operators detect, investigate and report potential sports betting integrity concerns.
Released on 27 October 2026, the review identifies good practices involving real-time monitoring, the prevention of sporting manipulation and cooperation between risk management and regulatory compliance teams.
The authority also highlighted opportunities to strengthen internal reporting procedures and the supervision of technology systems used by gambling businesses.
Review Focuses on Operators Reporting Few Alerts
The review examined licensed businesses that had submitted few or no Suspicious Betting Reports through the regulator’s official reporting mechanism.
The MGA sought to determine whether low reporting volumes reflected weaknesses in detection systems or effective preventive risk management.
The assessment was conducted between the second and fourth quarters of 2025 and covered a risk-based sample of B2C operators and B2B suppliers.
The regulator gathered evidence through supervisory meetings, document reviews and follow-up requests for information.
The findings were published in anonymised, aggregated form, without identifying the companies involved.
Fewer Reports Do Not Necessarily Mean Weaker Controls
One of the review’s main findings is that a low number of suspicious betting reports does not automatically indicate inadequate monitoring.
In several cases, operators had implemented preventive measures that reduced their exposure to suspicious activity.
These measures included:
- Restrictive betting limits.
- Conservative selections of sports betting markets.
- Exclusion of competitions considered vulnerable to manipulation.
- Restrictions on certain youth sporting events.
- Internal risk management procedures.
The MGA acknowledged that these practices can reduce the likelihood of operators encountering betting integrity concerns.
Real-Time Betting Monitoring
The report identifies continuous transaction monitoring as an important example of good practice.
The authority recommends systems capable of detecting unusual betting behaviour, odds movements and patterns potentially associated with sporting manipulation.
However, the MGA emphasised that automated monitoring tools must be supported by appropriate human oversight.
Operators should have trained personnel capable of interpreting alerts and determining whether internal investigations or regulatory reports are required.
Stronger Cooperation Between Risk and Compliance Teams
The MGA highlighted the importance of clear communication procedures between risk management and regulatory compliance departments.
The review identified positive practices among operators maintaining effective cooperation between these functions.
The regulator believes that every stage of the process should be documented, from the initial detection of an anomaly to its potential reporting to the authorities.
Internal policies should also define responsibilities and establish the deadlines applicable to suspicious betting reports.
Operators Should Not Rely Solely on External Alerts
Another issue examined was operators’ reliance on external sports integrity monitoring providers.
Many companies use specialist organisations that issue alerts when potentially suspicious betting patterns are detected.
However, the MGA found that some operators only initiated internal investigations after receiving notifications from external monitoring partners.
This approach could limit detection when third-party systems fail to generate an alert.
The regulator therefore recommends maintaining independent monitoring capabilities and access to betting data, even when operators rely on B2B sportsbook providers.
Protecting Athletes and Sports Personnel
The review also examined safeguards designed to prevent prohibited betting by individuals directly involved in sporting competitions.
Good practices identified by the MGA included:
- Verifying the identities of athletes and club personnel.
- Using databases and publicly available information to identify conflicts of interest.
- Requesting additional information from relevant account holders.
- Restricting participation by individuals with access to privileged sporting information.
- Preventing bets prohibited under sporting integrity rules.
These measures aim to reduce the risks of match manipulation and the misuse of inside information.
Reporting Obligations Across International Licences
The review also clarified the responsibilities of businesses holding gambling licences in multiple jurisdictions.
The MGA stated that suspicious activity involving players operating under a Maltese licence must be reported to the authority, even when the relevant patterns are initially detected in another regulated market.
Some operators were unaware of this requirement before receiving clarification during the supervisory review.
The regulator also reiterated that suspicious betting reports must be submitted within the prescribed deadlines, regardless of whether the activity resulted in financial losses.
MGA Encourages Reporting Where Concerns Exist
The authority recommends an open approach when determining which circumstances warrant reporting.
Rather than relying exclusively on fixed thresholds, operators are encouraged to report potentially relevant cases whenever reasonable concerns arise.
The objective is to prevent suspicious behaviour from falling outside official monitoring arrangements.
The MGA also emphasised the importance of maintaining adequate records of internal assessments, including cases that do not ultimately result in formal reports.
Proposal for a Centralised Athlete Register
During supervisory discussions, some operators suggested creating a centralised register of professional athletes.
Such a system could help identify customers prohibited from betting on certain sporting competitions.
However, the MGA clarified that developing this type of register falls outside its direct regulatory remit.
The authority suggested that sports associations could explore the proposal while considering data accuracy, maintenance, privacy requirements and international applicability.
Regulatory Impact and Next Steps
The publication is intended to provide practical guidance for operators and suppliers reviewing their sports betting integrity arrangements.
The MGA will continue monitoring licensed businesses and will consider the findings when developing future supervisory priorities and regulatory guidance.
The report does not introduce a new general reporting framework. Instead, it identifies recommended practices and areas for improvement within existing obligations.
The authority considers that combining technological monitoring, human oversight, preventive controls and clearly documented reporting procedures is essential to safeguarding sports betting integrity.
Edited by: @fonta
