Malta regulator pens data-sharing deal with Tennis Integrity Unit

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has expanded its relationship with the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) by entering into a new data-sharing agreement with the sport’s global anti-corruption body.

The two organisations have been working together for a number of years, but the new arrangement will allow them to collaborate more closely on joint efforts to combat match-fixing.

This work will include enhancing prevention and investigation processes, with a focus on tackling manipulation in the professional tennis market.

“The MGA has long held an excellent relationship with the TIU, but this agreement will allow the MGA the TIU to formalise a structure to share data and information in compliance with the law, for the purposes of detecting, preventing and investigating the manipulation of sports competitions,” MGA sports integrity officer Antonio Zerafa said.

Last week, the Tennis Integrity Supervisory Board approved plans to merge the anti-corruption and anti-doping divisions within a single organisation as part of an effort to enhance the integrity of tennis.

At present, the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TCAP) covers betting-related corruption issues, while the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) is run by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to tackle doping in the sport. The two entities will now join together at a single location with shared services and operate independently to the sport.