Key Moments:
- The Malta Gaming Authority received 68 suspicious betting reports between July and September 2025
- Football and tennis represented the highest number of suspicious activities, with 29 and 26 cases respectively
- Most notifications of irregular betting activity in Q3 were linked to Europe, with 30 alerts
Quarterly Rise in Reported Irregularities
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) documented a moderate increase in suspicious betting alerts in its Sports Betting Integrity Report for the third quarter of 2025. During July through September, MGA recorded 68 alerts related to questionable betting outcomes, reaffirming ongoing concerns about integrity risks in sports such as football and tennis.
These figures build on trends seen earlier in the year, when 65 suspicious events were recorded in the first quarter and 61 in the second, highlighting the persistence of match-fixing and irregular betting patterns facing the industry.
Alert System and Stakeholder Reporting
The MGA’s procedures ensure that whenever suspicious betting activity is discovered by operators or monitoring tools, the matter is escalated through a clearly defined process. Cases deemed significant are circulated to key stakeholders for further scrutiny and action. Of the 68 reports submitted in Q3, 49 alerts were distributed to relevant parties. Out of these, 27 did not need a formal report, while 13 were escalated to sports governing bodies; nine alerts are still under review.
During this period, the MGA engaged in 12 investigations relating to suspicious betting. Football represented the majority, comprising eight of the cases. The remainder spanned basketball, cricket, tennis, and athletics. This echoed second-quarter activity, when football was also the primary focus among 11 investigations undertaken.
Legal Obligations and Reporting Timeframes
The MGA’s guidance lays out specific obligations for licensees: both B2C and B2B operators must notify the authority of suspicious betting activity within three days of identification. This requirement is an important component in tracking, early intervention, and enforcing integrity standards within the gambling ecosystem.
Breakdown by Sport and Region
| Sport | Number of Reports (Q3 2025) |
|---|---|
| Football | 29 |
| Tennis | 26 |
| Esports | 5 |
| Table Tennis | 5 |
| Horse Racing | 2 |
| Cricket | 1 |
| Athletics | 1 |
| Badminton | 1 |
Geographical data for Q3 pinpointed Europe as the most affected region, responsible for 30 of the suspicious activity reports. Other regions included Asia (5), South America (4), North America and Africa (2 each), and the Middle East/West Asia (1). Esports alerts were classified as “international” due to their online nature.
Commitment to Industry Integrity
Reports throughout 2025 underscore the enduring challenge of match-fixing in football and reveal that tennis and esports are also becoming increasingly high-risk for suspicious activity. The MGA reiterated its pledge to “continue promoting integrity and responsibility across the gaming sector.”
Industry Gathering on the Horizon
Looking ahead, industry stakeholders are preparing for the highly anticipated SiGMA Central Europe conference, scheduled for November 3-6, 2025 at Fiera Roma in Rome. The event is set to feature more than 30,000 delegates, over 1,000 exhibitors, and upwards of 550 specialist speakers, providing a forum for exploring the future of the gaming sector.
- Author
Daniel Williams
