Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1489908
3 NEWS 12.1.2023 16 compliance audits carried out by MGA FROM PAGE 1 Based primarily on reducing the risk of money laundering or funding ter- rorism, the Fit & Proper Committee determined that four individuals and entities did not meet the MGA's fit and properness criteria, while an addition- al two applications were rejected by the Supervisory Council. A total of 626 criminal probity screening checks were undertaken on personnel, shareholders, ultimate ben- eficial owners, key individuals, em- ployees, and businesses from the land- based and online gambling sectors. In the first half of the year, 22 inter- views with prospective money laun- dering reporting officers (MLROs) and key persons carrying out the AML/ CFT function were carried out, with the aim of determining the knowledge and suitability of each candidate. A total of six letters of breach were is- sued by the MGA's Commercial Com- munications Committee (S.L. 583.09), out of which five operators were deemed to have violated the Commer- cial Communications Regulations. In its efforts to safeguard players and promote responsible gaming, the MGA assisted a total of 2,578 players who requested assistance, covering the majority of the cases received during 2022 and the spillover from 2021. A total of 22 cases of websites having misleading references to the Authority were investigated, while a total of 13 notices were published on the MGA's website with the aim of preventing the public from falling victim to such scams. Furthermore, an additional 18 responsible gambling website checks were conducted, and five observation letters were issued. Between January and June 2022, a to- tal of 122 alerts on suspicious betting were sent to the industry. Following correspondence of these alerts, the Suspicious Betting Reporting Mecha- nism received a total of 16 new suspi- cious betting reports. Enforcement agencies, sports gov- erning bodies, integrity units, and other regulatory authorities made a total of 23 requests for information, specifically in relation to the manipu- lation of sporting events or violations of sporting regulations. Subsequently, 10 of these requests resulted in the exchange of data. In addition, 278 al- legations of suspicious betting from licensees and other interested parties were received. e MGA participated directly in 12 separate investigations into sports rules violations or manipulation of sporting competitions during the time under review. In addition, the MGA also participated indirectly in another investigation. It also sent 64 requests for interna- tional cooperation, the majority of which related to requests for back- ground checks as part of an authori- sation process, and received a total of 36 requests for international collabo- ration from other regulators. Up to the end of June 2022, a total of 84 official replies were issued, provid- ing feedback on the regulatory good standing of our licensed operators to the relevant authorities asking for this information. In total, during the first six months of the year, the MGA received just over 100 requests for information from other local regulating authorities and governing bodies. Catena Media appoints Carnegie as financial adviser CATENA Media plc has mandated Carnegie Investment Bank AB (publ) as financial adviser to assist the com- pany in assessing strategic options as part of conversations with third parties that have shown interest in acquiring certain assets, including all the re- maining assets of the group. As communicated in the strategic review that was announced in May 2022 and expanded in August 2022, the group continues to streamline the business to focus on the fast-growing, regulated North American market. As announced on 15 December 2022, third parties have shown inter- est in acquiring other assets as part of this process, and the group con- tinues to evaluate the divestment of such. During these discussions, third parties have also shown interest in acquiring all the remaining assets of the group in a strategic transaction or through a public tender offer for the group. So far, the board of directors of Catena Media has received no firm or indicative bids for the group or any of its assets. Catena Media is a global leader in generating high-value leads for oper- ators of online casino, sports betting and financial trading platforms. e group's large portfolio of web-based affiliation brands guides online users to customer websites and enriches the experience of players worldwide. Headquartered in Malta, the group employs over 450 people in Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific and Oceania. Gaming Innovation Group: change in board of directors MICHAEL Ahearne, board member of Gaming Innovation Group Inc. (GiG) has decided to resign as a di- rector of the company. Ahearne joined the board 1 April 2022 following SkyCity Entertain- ment Group becoming shareholder in GiG in connection with the ac- quisition of Sportnco Gaming SAS. Ahearne closely followed the devel- opment of GiG during this period. As SkyCity's Chief Executive Of- ficer, Ahearne will now focus on his commitments to SkyCity in New Zea- land and Australia. SkyCity is represented in GiG's nomination committee and will par- ticipate to propose a board composi- tion to the annual meeting of share- holders in May that has an adequate breadth of competence, experience and background and will contribute to a continued positive development for GiG. The remaining board members, Petter Nylander (chairman), Nicolas Adlercreutz, Kathryn Moore Baker, Mikael Riese Harstad, Kjetil Garstad and Hessi Mocca will continue to act as the Company's Board of Directors.