The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has warned bookmakers to strengthen integrity controls and suspicious betting monitoring ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, as regulators prepare for one of the busiest betting periods in recent years.
In a notice issued to licensees, the MGA called for heightened vigilance throughout the tournament, which runs from 11 June to 19 July across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The regulator said operators must maintain enhanced monitoring of betting activity and report any suspicious transactions immediately through its reporting mechanism, in line with obligations under Malta’s Gaming Authorisations and Compliance Directive.
The directive has been issued in collaboration with FIFA as authorities seek to protect both betting markets and the integrity of the tournament itself.
The World Cup remains one of the largest global betting events, generating billions of pounds in wagering activity across regulated and unregulated markets. Regulators have traditionally viewed major international football tournaments as periods of elevated integrity risk due to the volume of bets placed on thousands of markets and match outcomes.
The MGA said licensees should adopt a proactive, risk-based approach throughout the competition and ensure that internal governance structures remain fit for purpose.
Operators have also been reminded to maintain a designated Sports Integrity Point of Contact and cooperate fully with the MGA Sports Integrity Unit and other integrity bodies investigating suspicious activity.
The warning forms part of a broader shift in Malta’s regulatory strategy, with the authority increasingly moving towards continuous compliance oversight rather than relying solely on checks conducted during the licensing process.
Risk-based controls
In recent years the MGA has expanded its supervision model to focus on ongoing monitoring, risk management and operational resilience. Compliance reviews now place greater emphasis on financial discipline, evidence-based risk controls and the effectiveness of internal audit functions.
The regulator has also sharpened its scrutiny of incident response procedures, cybersecurity safeguards and wider IT governance arrangements as part of enhanced auditing requirements.
Alongside integrity controls, the MGA reminded operators and third-party marketing partners that all World Cup advertising must comply with Malta’s Commercial Communications Regulations.
Advertising must be socially responsible and should not target minors or vulnerable individuals, either directly or indirectly, the authority said.
The MGA warned that failure to comply with sports integrity, compliance or advertising obligations could result in regulatory action against licence holders.
