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An individual known as Lilith Wittman has admitted to hacking into the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and sharing the obtained data with media outlets and authorities.
Claiming to be an “ethical hacker,” Wittman explained that the purpose of the hack was to expose what she described as organized crime facilitation by the MGA, which presents itself as a legitimate public service.
Wittman, a member of the Chaos Computer Club, Europe’s largest association of hackers, believes the information she obtained is crucial for public discussion and justified her actions as necessary.
She previously confessed to hacking Germany’s Christian Democratic Union political party and found breaching the MGA’s system to be equally simple.
MGA Says Hack Was Unacceptable
The MGA issued a statement denouncing the attack. Despite Wittman’s claims of ethical hacking, the gaming regulator deemed the attack unjustified and lacking any prior disclosure.
According to the MGA, the activity did not involve any recognized or good-faith disclosure to the Authority, refuting Wittman’s allegations of organized crime facilitation.
The MGA emphasized its adherence to a strong legal and regulatory framework, conducting its statutory functions with integrity, independence, and accountability.
Wittman acknowledged the potential consequences of her actions, including a possible 10-year prison sentence if extradited from Germany to Malta. She warned that any legal action taken against her would lead to the release of the obtained data.
In a subsequent post, she stated, “Any police action from Malta would also trigger the immediate release of my entire archive of iGaming-related data.”
Why Did She Target The MGA?
Malta serves as a major hub for online gambling, licensing over 300 companies and attracting numerous gambling firms due to its favorable tax rates.
For instance, SkyBet, a UK betting brand under Flutter, relocated its headquarters to Malta to benefit from significant tax savings.
Esports organizations like BLAST have also invested in Malta, but the country has faced criticism for lenient regulations that allegedly enable gambling companies to engage in money laundering.
In 2021, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) added Malta to its grey list due to inadequate oversight of gambling companies and weak anti-money laundering enforcement. Malta was later removed from the list in 2023 after implementing reforms to comply with FATF’s recommendations.
In collaboration with the UK Gambling Commission, the MGA has taken steps to combat criminal activities and address gambling-related harm.
Tensions Between European Nations and Malta
Tensions have arisen between Malta and other European countries following the passage of Bill 55, an amendment to Malta’s Gaming Act in 2023.
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