Malta Gaming Authority welcomes Ghanaian delegation with a focus on regulation of Ghana's lottery industry

The Malta Gaming Authority recently welcomed a delegation from Ghana at its premises at SmartCity. The two entities discussed potential knowledge-sharing initiatives, and how the Ghana National Lottery Authority could benefit from Malta’s experience in implementing necessary changes in a sustainable manner, whilst striking a balance between regulatory objectives and the sector’s need. 

Malta’s regulator was given a glimpse of the Ghanaian lottery’s performance, the challenges faced and the changes it may be implementing in the future. The delegation, in turn, was provided with an overview of what the MGA regulates and how, with a particular focus on responsible gaming measures. 

The Maltese watchdog also expounded upon the way gaming taxes are structured in Malta and how changes, with a complete legal overhaul taking place in 2018, were implemented in a way that ensured the Authority was ready to regulate in the years to come. 

Following the meeting, the parties agreed to continue working together and set up tailor-made workshops to assist Ghana’s National Lottery Authority in planning and introducing the necessary changes to regulate the modern lottery sector.

The meeting was attended by Ghana’s High Commissioner to Malta, H.E. Barbara Akoukor Benisa, and a delegation representing the Ghana National Lottery Authority. 

The MGA welcomed a delegation from Ghana, discussing potential knowledge-sharing initiatives & how the Ghana National Lottery Authority could benefit from Malta’s experience. pic.twitter.com/vzJcavijMH

— MaltaGamingAuthority (@MaltaGamingAuth) November 30, 2022

Kinga Warda, Chief Officer - Policy & International Affairs, said that the meeting with the Ghanaian delegation served as a great platform for exchange of valuable perspectives on Maltese and Ghanaian lottery sectors, regulatory environments, and challenges that both jurisdictions face, creating opportunities to collaborate in the future. 

“We welcome such opportunities for collaboration and knowledge-sharing initiatives with other regulators and industry stakeholders,” Warda said. “Increased collaboration results in greater efficacy in supervising a safe and responsible gaming environment across the board.”

The Maltese watchdog is no stranger to collaborating with other regulators. Back in October, the MGA and French regulator L’Autorité Nationale des Jeux collaborated on a joint technical meeting on Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) matters.

The two-day workshop, which took place on September 27-28, had as its purpose to showcase the methodologies and requirements of both authorities as well as to foster cooperation between the two regulators.