MGA and Badminton World Federation sign data-sharing agreement

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) Integrity Unit has recently established a Data Sharing Agreement with the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).

BWF’s strategic partnership with the MGA forms a key component of monitoring suspicious betting activity in badminton and further demonstrates the BWF Integrity Unit’s ongoing commitment to a clean and fair sport.

Monitoring and investigations are a vital scope of BWF’s anti-match manipulation operations, whereby player information is gathered, matches and competition details are analysed and intelligence is used in investigations into possible match manipulation.

MGA head of financial crime compliance , Antonio Zerafa said, “I am very pleased to see the Badminton World Federation added to the long list of Sports’ Governing Bodies whom the Authority already assists on a practical level, and we look forward to working with the BWF’s Integrity Unit on any issues that may arise.

“This partnership helps the BWF Integrity Unit protect the integrity of the sport with MGA helping to facilitate the sharing of data between betting operators and the BWF Integrity Unit,” BWF Secretary General, Thomas Lund said.

“We see this as being a deterrent to potential corruptors of the sport as we continue to preserve the integrity of badminton.”

Signing data-sharing agreements with Sports’ Governing Bodies is an essential part of the work conducted by the MGA.

The BWF Integrity Unit is an operational unit within the BWF office in Kuala Lumpur. The unit focuses on keeping badminton free from doping and match manipulation. On a day-to-day basis, the Integrity Unit manages the anti-doping and anti-match fixing programmes, as well as planning and implementing awareness, information, education, and deterrence initiatives within the badminton community.