Malta Gaming Authority and Swedish FA sign data-sharing deal over sports integrity

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the Swedish Football Association are strengthening their cooperation in order to minimize malpractice in sports. The latest deal signed by the two entities is just one of a number of similar agreements that the MGA made with various prominent sports organizations.

Both governing bodies aim to preserve the integrity of various sports

The purpose of the deal is centered around the persistent issue of match fixing and other issues that have plagued sports and sports betting for some time, including various forms of manipulation that predetermine the outcome of the game. Other bodies that the MGA has signed similar deals with include International Olympic Committee, the Tennis Integrity Unit, the International Cricket Council and similar high-profile governing organizations.

As MGA sports integrity manager Antonio Zerafa explained in a statement regarding the deal, Malta’s gaming body and various sports integrity organizations have thus far mostly been limited to discussions on how to prevent and discourage malpractice. With the deal, explained Zerafa, the governing bodies will now be able to share data among one another. The MGA hopes that the new data-sharing plan will significantly increase the effectiveness of investigations into suspicious cases, along with highlighting the MGA’s dedication to ensuring that sports are free of tampering and fixing.