MGA No Connections to Italian Mobster Arrested on Casino Money Laundering Scam

The (Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has said that it has no connections to an Italian mobster using casinos to launder illicit funds. (Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay)

When Italian man Antonio Ricci got deported from Malta in 2019, word was he had ties to sketchy gambling ops linked to mobsters back home.

But Malta’s gaming watchdog says none of the companies they keep tabs on have any piece of this guy. Ricci did catch charges in Italy for cozying up to the ‘Ndrangheta mafia clan. Still, the regulator wants to make it crystal clear: Antonio Ricci has no ownership or unofficial role with any legit gaming biz on the island.

This all comes after the cops busted a massive illegal online gambling ring supposedly funneling dirty money to the mob. The Malta-registered site targeted bettors across the pond in Italy. Scammers used existing mafia cronies to push the site locally and rake in the profits, trying to scrub the criminal stench off the dough through a cascade system.

When the lead mobster got nailed living large without enough income to match, the jig was up – to the tune of over $400 million in seized assets. While the authorities chalked up a win, shady operators continue to skirt laws and soak gambling markets. The gaming oversight crew in Malta says they’ll keep working with the po-po. But they want to calm any worries that their above-board licensees are tangled in mafia mayhem.

For the full skinny on this developing story, read more here.

MGA: The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is one of the most respected online casino regulators globally. Many of the platforms on our online casino licensing guide use the authority for licensing. The MGA has a solid reputation and is well-known for its excellent player Vs casino dispute resolution and mediation services provided to players all over the globe. In particular, the goes covered here on Livecasinocentral. Plus, it has a zero-tolerance policy on money laundering via it’s strict AML laws.

Official Statement Announcing No Ties to the Italian Mobster

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) recently announced it has no ties to an Italian man charged with working with the mafia group ‘Ndrangheta. The man’s name is Antonio Ricci. Ricci was deported from Malta to Italy in 2019 after his arrest. He’s now facing restrictions in his hometown in Italy related to the criminal case.

Recently, Italian police took over $400 million worth of money and property from gaming companies illegally tied to the mob. Some news reports suggested Ricci was involved with one of these companies operating in Malta. However, the MGA made clear none of the online gambling companies it oversees have any ownership connection to Ricci.

In the MGA offcial statement the authority says “Ricci does not have any role, even unofficial, with any gaming firm we license,” the regulator said. The MGA stated it will keep working with law enforcement on this situation. It wants to reassure people of the legitimacy of Malta’s gaming industry.

Backstory: Cops Bust Up Illegal Online Gambling Ring With Suspected Mob Ties

Italian police slammed a sketchy online gambling company with suspected mafia connections, seizing almost half a billion dollars of their assets. Investigators believe the Malta-based site was a front to launder money from shady betting operations across Italy.

Even though the company was registered overseas, turns out it targeted Italian customers. The cops say they used a sneaky cascade system with established crime families. The mafia dudes promoted the site and collected the profits locally, taking a cut for their troubles. This set-up let them wash tons of dirty money without raising red flags. The head honcho was somehow living large in Italy despite not reporting enough income. Keeping the Italian side separate was how they tried to hide the broader criminal outfit.

The jig was up when investigators saw the boss was richer than he let on. That clue kicked off over $400 million in seized assets from him and three related gaming companies. Authorities are pumped about landing a blow against the mob’s grabby hands in online gambling – an industry where shadiness is no stranger. But keeping guys like this at bay is still an uphill fight. Here’s hoping this case leads to more takedowns of sketchy operators.

Official MGA AML Laws: The official Anti-Money Laundering (AML) laws implemented by the MGA can be found on the licensing authority’s main website via its detailed MGA regulatory framework webpage. The page also includes responsible gambling polices, and more about the MGA gambling framework. See the highlighted box for more info.