UKGC partners MGA for safer gambling knowledge exchange

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malta’s Gaming Authority (MGA) to better regulate the gambling sector. 

Through the agreement, both regulators will exchange information and intelligence to build up better consumer safeguarding measures, curb criminal behaviour, and reduce gambling harm rates.

Andrew Rhodes, UKGC CEO, said: “We welcome this agreement as a sign of our continued collaboration between the MGA and the UKGC. 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.”

Further commenting on the collaboration, Charles Mizzi, CEO of MGA, added: “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.”

Both authorities recognise the increasingly global nature of the industry, and therefore the critical importance of cross-collaboration. By sharing best practices through the MoU, the MGA and the UKGC aim to strengthen their respective regulatory frameworks and address common challenges more efficiently.