The Lotteries and Gaming Authority has signed a memorandum of understanding with world football governing body FIFA over co-operation to avoid sports events being manipulated by malicious gamblers, the gaming regulator said yesterday.

Described as “historic”, the document was signed with FIFA’s in-house agency, FIFA Early Warning System GmbH, to protect and maintain the integrity of football and sports betting.

Under the MoU, the LGA, in collaboration with its licensed operators, will provide the necessary assistance to ensure the early warning system works effectively. “Such collaboration will further increase the existing deterrents and will ensure that the possibility of achieving unfair winnings – a phenomenon which is particularly present with respect to unregulated betting activities – remains shut out of regulated markets, such as that regulated by the LGA,” the authority explained.

“The memorandum of understanding will bring together FIFA’s early warning system, the LGA, and its betting licensees to exchange betting-related information to assist the investigation of betting patterns or insider betting connected with sporting events and competitions.”

LGA chief executive Reuben Portanier and FIFA Early Warning System GmbH chief executive Urs Scherrer signed the document.

Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said the development reflected the importance Maltese legislation places on game fairness. Besides stringent gaming legislation, Malta has a specific legal framework to prevent corruption in sports.

This latest collaboration is an important addition to the intention and spirit of the law, Mr Fenech said.