The Malta Gaming Authority and French regulator L’Autorité Nationale des Jeux have recently collaborated on a joint technical meeting on Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) matters.
The two-day workshop, which took place on September 27-28, had as its purpose to showcase the methodologies and requirements of both authorities as well as to foster cooperation between the two regulators.
Held remotely, the joint workshop looked at an overview of both MGA and ANJ’s AML Units’ functions, composition, and objectives with a specific focus on the supervisory aspect. This included presentations on corresponding legislation, an overview of AML/CFT obligations of licensees, the examination process and post-examination procedures, and the common pitfalls which are encountered during such processes.
In addition, the workshop also delved into the onboarding procedures from a fit and propriety standpoint. “The MGA welcomes the opportunities to exchange its expertise with its international counterparts and learn from each other’s experiences which are of benefit to the regulation of the gaming sector,” the Authority said in a statement.
The proposed amendments to the Player Protection Directive are the product of extensive work carried out by the MGA’s RG team, particularly familiarization visits and ongoing consultations with the industry – Head of Legal Affairs Brandon Debattista at Safer Gambling Week Cyprus. pic.twitter.com/bR4ckWdoCV
— MaltaGamingAuthority (@MaltaGamingAuth) October 3, 2022
Furthermore, the MGA announced this week that the period of consultation regarding the proposed amendments to the player protection rules is being extended from Friday 14, 2022 to Monday 24, 2022. “This extension will allow all stakeholders additional time to thoroughly review the amendments and provide feedback,” the MGA said of the extension.
The amendments proposed that are currently being subject to consultation delve into the licensees’ obligations regarding their responsible gaming policies and procedures, and the introduction of five markers of harm that must be considered when determining effective measures and processes to detect and address problem gambling.
Provisions relating to real-money reinforcement and staff training have also been included in the proposed amendments. The new rules are being suggested on the basis of a review of the key sections of the Player Protection Directive carried out “by an expert in the field,” and on the basis of the Authority’s own research and experience garnered “through the Responsible Gaming Unit’s audits and familiarization visits.”
