IBIA Publishes New Report on Digital Assets and Betting Integrity

IBIA has launched The Next Bet initiative as part of its Mission 2030 roadmap. The first edition is titled "Digital Assets, Payments and Integrity." The publication examines how blockchain, digital assets and changing payment methods could affect regulated betting. The Malta Gaming Authority, Betsson Group and payment provider Pay4Fun contributed to the publication. The association said the publication aims to encourage debate rather than offer a single answer.

The Malta Gaming Authority shares its experience in regulating digital assets. According to the authority, blockchain applications can support transparency and traceability. Chief Regulatory Officer Martha Brincat said these tools can help with monitoring and investigations when used properly. Brincat also stressed that both betting activity and the financial services that support it must be effectively supervised.

Betsson's contribution focuses on changing expectations around deposits, withdrawals and mobile payments. Head of Legal and Customer Operations Nadia Calleja said operators must balance convenience and conversion against cost, fraud prevention and regulatory compliance. The discussion also covers the possible role of stablecoins and their effects on responsible gambling. Senior Legal Counsel Sarah Vassallo said that adoption in regulated iGaming markets will most likely focus on fiat-backed stablecoins within the regulatory framework.

Pay4Fun is examining how transaction monitoring, anti-money laundering and fraud prevention controls can support market integrity. CEO and co-founder Leonardo Baptista argued that innovation must develop alongside regulation to deliver security, transparency and trust. IBIA CEO Khalid Ali said integrity frameworks should anticipate changes in the sector rather than only react to them after the fact. Ali added that cooperation between regulators, payment providers and operators in risk management will be as important as technology.