The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) have formalised their cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a significant step in their collaborative efforts to regulate the gaming sector.

The agreement focuses on enhancing the exchange of information and intelligence between the two regulators to better safeguard consumers, prevent criminal activity, and protect vulnerable players from gambling-related harm.

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.

Commenting on the MoU, UKGC CEO Andrew Rhodes remarked: “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.”

MGA CEO Charles Mizzi emphasised that: “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.”

Andrew Rhodes further added: “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.”

The winners of IAGR’s 2024 International Regulatory Awards have been revealed, with regulators from Australia, the Netherlands and Denmark taking home the trophies during the IAGR & IMGL Rome Conference.

This year’s winners showcase innovative and effective regulatory efforts from across the globe.

1. Regulatory Excellence Award: Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
   For the launch of the BetStop National Self Exclusion Register, the ACMA was recognised for overcoming complex delivery and regulatory challenges to create Australia’s first centralised exclusion register.

2. Regulatory Innovation Award: Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa), Netherlands Gambling Authority
   The Ksa was commended for its use of data to enhance consumer protection, fast-tracking advanced dashboards to improve regulatory oversight.

3. Best Regulatory Campaign Award: Danish Gambling Authority
   The Danish Gambling Authority won for its ‘One Armed Bandit’ campaign, which used humour and collaboration with influencers to engage the public on responsible gambling.

IAGR Vice President, Sarah Kelly, who was part of the judging panel, said:

‘This year saw one of the highest numbers of global nominations, with a diversity of entries reflecting the increasing efforts of our members to improve regulation of the gaming sector.

‘Our winners have shown exceptional dedication in advancing regulatory standards for the benefit of the gaming industry and its consumers.’

ACMA Chair, Nerida O’Loughlin said:

‘BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register represents a significant enhancement of consumer safeguards available to Australians who gamble. The IAGR award for regulatory excellence is recognition of the dedication and collaboration of ACMA staff in delivering this important safeguard which has supported the more than 30,000 Australians registered to date.’

Michel Groothuizen, Chairman of the Ksa/Netherlands Gambling Authority said:

‘I was honoured to be in Rome on behalf of our organization. I greatly appreciate the international acknowledgement for ‘Markers of risk’. I would like to thank my dedicated and impactful colleagues Dr. Flóra Felsö and Dr. Judith Kas and their team for their hard work. The report about this project will be published later this year. A great contribution to our mission which states consumers must be able to play safely. We act to prevent misconduct.’

Anders Dorph, Director of the Danish Gambling Authority, said:
‘Our campaign “The One-Armed Bandit” targets underage persons to prevent them from gambling, which is why we took a quite unusual approach. For instance, our character uses a type of language which one does not normally hear in campaigns from public organisations. However, we found it necessary to use unorthodox methods to reach our target group and I am very thankful that the IAGR jury saw the value of our campaign.

‘Preventing underage children and young people from gambling and gambling harm is an important agenda for the Danish Gambling Authority which is why I am particularly proud of the award.’

These prestigious awards underscore the importance of collaboration, innovation and dedication in the global regulation of gambling. 

The Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA) has imposed a penalty payment order on Winbet NV for offering unlicensed games of chance. Offering games of chance without the required license is prohibited in the Netherlands. If the party does not cease the violation and keep it ceased, it will be imposed a penalty payment.

Investigation by the KSA has shown that Winbet offered gambling via four websites: galaxyspins.com, winnercasino1.bet, superb1.bet and doctorspins.com. For this, it has been imposed a penalty of €280,000 per week, with a maximum of €840,000.

On all the sites examined it was possible to create a player account, make deposits and participate in the illegal gambling offered. No technical measures were taken on the sites to prevent participation from the Netherlands.

The Netherlands has a regulated gambling market to better protect players. The KSA therefore takes tough action against illegal supply. With an order subject to penalty, illegal supply is often quickly stopped. Providers can also be fined for the period in which the illegal supply was available.