REGULATOR’S REFLECTIONS
IMGL PRESIDENT QUIRINO MANCINI OPENED THE CASINO BEATS SUMMIT IN MALTA WITH A ONE ON-ONE INTERVIEW WITH CARL BRINCAT, CEO OF THE MALTA GAMING AUTHORITY. PHIL SAVAGE CAPTURED THEIR DISCUSSION TOGETHER WITH ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS FROM CARL HIMSELF.
Quirino Mancini: Malta has been a pioneer in regulating iGaming so has a perspective on 20+ years of the industry’s development. What are the top lessons you would like to share with newly regulating markets? Carl Brincat: Regulating an industry that is constantly changing and evolving can be challenging, but for me, there are two key elements. The first is to maintain an open dialogue and collaborative approach with licensees and all stakeholders. Casino Beats is just one of many conferences we attend throughout the year. Our presence at such conferences, the regulatory workshops we hold and the fact that we rigorously consult on regulatory developments shows that the Malta Gaming Authority is engaged with the industry and forward- facing in our development of innovative policies. Second, I must stress the importance to us of being a data- driven authority. Data is our most valuable asset. It serves as a guiding force for various functions across the Authority, ranging from legislative reforms and policy development to software development and data protection. We try to ensure that our decision making is always driven by data and evidence rather than making policies that are driven by reactions to adverse occurrences or perceived risks. These are the two most important issues in my view: having a constructive dialogue with the industry and ensuring that decisions are underpinned by evidence. QM: The industry is seen by some as profiting from the weaknesses of the vulnerable. Does a Maltese license improve or worsen this perception and what can the MGA do to support and improve the industry’s reputation? CB: Gambling has been a part of human history for centuries, and it will always exist, whether we try to ban it or not. Prohibition or the lack of effective regulation leads customers towards
unregulated gambling activities, which can be significantly more harmful to people and society than gambling which is sensibly regulated. Unregulated offerings may prey on the vulnerable but the same cannot be said for regulated operators. Regulated operators spend a lot of time, energy, and money developing tools and know-how to prevent problematic gambling behaviour, and to detect it and assist the players affected when prevention is unsuccessful. Gambling may carry a risk of addiction, but the same can also be said for other activities that may spiral into behavioural addictions if they become compulsive. It is how we help people avoid that addiction, and address it if it occurs, that matters most: harm minimisation. The MGA has worked tirelessly to increase the effectiveness of our oversight of the gaming industry at large, and to bolster cooperation with our foreign counterparts and share best practices. Our position is that, above all else, safe, sustainable, and responsible gambling is of paramount importance to the sector. The recent amendments to the Player Protection Directive are testament to the MGA’s commitment to continue prioritising the welfare of players. The amendments introduce five markers of harm that indicate where a player might be experiencing problematic gambling. This has created a benchmark for all MGA licensees to follow when determining effective measures and processes to detect and address the issue. With Maltese regulation so focused on harm minimisation, operators that choose a Maltese license show their intention to conduct their business in a manner which is sustainable for its players. QM: What do you say to those who claim that Malta undermines national sovereignty by issuing gambling licenses to operators who use them to offer their products in jurisdictions where their activities are unregulated? CB: Online gambling is, by nature, a global and cross-border
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IMGL MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2023
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