Malta’s gaming control board, the Malta Gaming Authority, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) so that cooperation may be enhanced between the pair of authorities.

According to the official news release…

The reason for the MoU is so that close communications can be maintained between the two authorities, and that key information including matters of policy that affect both authorities be shared.

Operational assistance:

The two gaming offices have further agreed to provide to one another, on a continuous basis, the best possible operational assistance in keeping with their respective regulatory policies and procedures.

Director General for the Swedish Gambling Authority, Camilla Rosenberg, commented…

“Many of the companies that have received a Swedish license also have technical equipment and a license in Malta.”

“By opening the communication channels between the authorities, we become stronger in our supervisory activities. This is the beginning of a broad and long-term cooperation, and our plan is to initiate corresponding collaborations with more gambling authorities in Europe,” added Rosenberg.

Relationship key to objectives:

For its part, Malta Gaming Authority Chief Executive Officer, Heathcliff Farrugia (pictured, right), said…

“The MGA is always actively seeking to foster relationships with fellow authorities and other international regulatory bodies as we firmly believe that such relationships are key to reaching our objectives, especially in the area of remote gaming which is fundamentally cross-border in nature.”

“This MoU, signed with the Swedish Gambling Authority, is an important step towards achieving both our respective regulatory goals in vital areas of mutual interest, especially since the MGA and the Swedish Gambling Authority share a significant number of operators licensed by both regulators. We are eager to start this mutually beneficial journey with our Swedish counterpart,” explained Farrugia.

“the beginning of a broad and long-term cooperation”

Established in 2001, MGA is the gaming control board of the archipelago, which is located in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast, and as such regulates most forms of gambling in its territory, including land-based and online gambling services and both BC and B2B services.

Meanwhile, the Swedish Gambling Authority is responsible for ensuring the legality, safety and reliability of the Scandinavian nation’s gaming and gambling market. Its goal is to contribute to the reduction of illegal lottery and gambling operations.

Newly-regulated market:

On June 7 this year, the new Gambling Act (SFS 2018:1138) was approved by the Riksdag (the Swedish Parliament) that gives Sweden a new, re-regulated gambling market. The new license system went into effect on January 1, 2019, and only companies that have obtained a license will be permitted to conduct gambling activities in the Scandinavian nation.