Public Appointments Committee approves nomination of new gaming authority chief

Parliament’s Public Appointments Committee yesterday decided to recommend the approval of Marlene Seychell’s nomination as nonexecutive chairperson of the Malta Gaming Authority.

During the sitting, Seychell denied having a conflict of interest.

It was today reported that Seychell has a conflict of interest because she sits on the board of Main Street Complex PLC, a company which hosts a bingo hall regulated by the MGA. Speaking at the sitting this afternoon, Seychell said she did not have a conflict of interest as she did not sit on the board of any company involved in gaming.

She added that she was prepared to give up the directorship if required. Seychell said the relationships between Main Street and the companies operating within the building are managed by the management, not the directors.

She told the committee members that her main priority as non-executive chair of the MGA will be antimoney laundering and and anti-financing of terrorism as well as safeguarding Malta’s reputation.

Risk would be limited as much as possible, she said, adding that the number of licenses issued to Italian gaming companies had dropped drastically. Seychell said the MGA will be consulting with industry experts with the aim of further improving regulation.