Gaming Malta has encouraged the gaming industry to remain vigilant to ensure Malta’s reputation as a “home” to gaming is not threatened.

The foundation, set up earlier this year, said in a statement that the events of the last week should not overshadow the significant contribution which Malta gave over more than a decade to the better regulation of remote gaming in Europe and worldwide.

Gaming Malta was set up with a view to promoting Malta as a leading licensing jurisdiction for gaming and a centre of excellence where capacity, knowledge and resources, are readily available and operational within a well regulated environment.

It brings together stakeholders including the Malta Gaming Authority, the government, the Malta Remote Gaming Council, the Chamber of Commerce, the Malta Institute of Accountants and the Chamber of Advocates.

It said that one of the principal objectives of gambling regulation was to keep the industry free from crime. For this objective to be reached, it was imperative for regulators to properly vet license applicants and that quick action was taken when foul play was identified.

The fact that the MGA acted swiftly to suspend the licenses of those operators against which Italian authorities brought some very serious charges was a clear message that illegality and abuse would not be tolerated and that Malta expected the highest levels of compliance from operators, it said.

“In this context, Gaming Malta supports the actions taken by the MGA to maintain Malta’s reputation as a trustworthy and leading licensing jurisdiction.”