Gambling

Irish laws will push gamblers to black market, Maltese regulator warns

Malta Gaming Authority has said her agency believes that ‘control and regulation’ is a better safeguard that ‘prohibition’

Martina Cilia, Malta Gaming Authority: ‘unnecessary restrictions that are disproportionately applied prove counterproductive in the long run’. Picture: Fergal Philips

Ireland’s plan to impose stringent curbs on gambling advertising risks driving punters to black market operators, according to the Maltese betting regulator.

The Malta Gaming Authority – which has been overseeing online gambling operators for 20 years – warned that prohibitive regulations can incentivise black-market operators if they are applied “disproportionately”.

Martina Cilia, the manager of international affairs and policy strategy, told the Business Post her agency believes that “control and regulation” safeguards gamblers better ...