UKGC And MGA Strengthen Links, Aim is to Raise Industry Standards
A new formal agreement between the MGA and UKGC has been sealed. Players and gambling establishments can benefit from this extended partnership through better control of responsible gambling practices.
UKGC Hails Continued MGA Partnership After Penning MoU
The UK’s Gambling Commission (UKGC) says it is happy to be continuing its partnership with the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). The two organisations, which are among the world’s leading regulatory bodies for the gambling industry, have announced they have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
As a result, they will be sharing more information in a bid to reduce gambling harms. Best practice will also be shared by UKGC and MGA, thanks to the MoU.
Chief executive of the Gambling Commission, Andrew Rhodes, said the body welcomes the “continued collaboration” with the MGA.
He said:
“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… We are keen to continue strengthening our efforts to raise standards across the industry, tackling common challenges such as illegal gambling, while also exploring future collaboration, including initiatives like shadowing and addressing key issues in areas like AML and sports betting integrity.”
Step In The Right Direction
Among the goals of the MoU will be to prevent illegal activity in the gambling world, with unlicensed operators on the rise in many nations around the world.
France recently confirmed it will aim to legalise online casinos, partly to raise revenues to boost a struggling economy and to address the rise in illegal betting in the country. Rhodes’ counterpart at the MGA, Charles Mizzi, also spoke out in support of the new MoU.
MGA chief executive Mizzi said in a statement: “Our longstanding informal collaboration with the UKGC has already delivered meaningful outcomes, and the formalisation of this cooperation is definitely a step in the right direction.
“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.”
Formalising The Cooperation
The MoU comes on the back of extended talks held between the UKGC and the MGA. UKGC CEO Rhodes and the body’s executive director for operations, Kay Roberts, spent two days in Malta discussing collaborative efforts over issues such as money laundering last year.
The Gambling Commission shared an update on the UK’s Gambling Act White Paper, but the progress of new regulation for the industry has been affected by Labour’s resounding win at the 2024 general election.
Labour pledged to reform the gambling sector but has yet to reveal any concrete details.
