Ryan Pace’s MGA Promotion as a New Chairman
In 2021, Ryan Pace was appointed the new chairman of the Malta Gaming Authority’s Board of Directors. The move came during a controversial period for the regulator, with some opposing Pace’s appointment. In this guide to the Ryan Pace MGA promotion, we’ve looked at who this new leader is and why he was appointed.
An Overiview
We’ve started this guide by providing a brief biography of Ryan Pace, before tracking his appointment as the new chairman of the MGA Board of Directors. We’ve then looked at the controversy surrounding his promotion, and discussed the shaky period for the regulator during which he was chosen.
We’ve then explained what Pace’s role actually entails, before providing some background of some other recent scandals that have hit the respected gaming regulator. If you wish, you can use the buttons below to jump to each top. Otherwise, keep reading to learn the full story.
Who is Ryan Pace?
Before his appointment to chair, Ryan Pace achieved a law degree at the University of Malta. He received his Bachelor of Laws degree in 2014 before completing his Diploma of Notary Public in 2015. In 2017, he obtained his Doctor of Laws degree. The following year, the President of Malta awarded him a warrant to practice as a lawyer.
He is an associate of the private legal firm of Prime Minister Robert Abela, and has experience in a number of legal fields, including Industrial, Planning, Civil, Criminal, Citizenship, and Family Law. His appointment as Chairman of the Board of Directors was surprising to many due to his inexperience in dealing with the top Maltese online casinos.
Pace Appointed Chairman
In April 2021, Ryan Pace was appointed the new Chairman of the Malta Gaming Authority by Prime Minister Robert Abela. The new job appointment of Ryan Pace in Malta came only a few months after Carl Brincat, another lawyer, was appointed CEO in the wake of the former CEO’s firing on corruption charges. His law experience was a major factor in his hiring.
The Ryan Pace promotion needed to be voted in by parliament. Many opposition members opposed the appointment and cited Pace’s inexperience in the gambling sector as an issue. The move was made relatively swiftly and without an official announcement by the MGA, though Abela publically stood by his decision.
Pace wasn’t completely inexperienced at serving on policy advisory boards though. Between May and August 2020, he was appointed to serve as board secretary of Mediterranean Offshore Bunkering Limited and Engineering Resources. He also served as deputy chairman of Arms Limited and the MGA.
These were all government companies. In addition to them, he was appointed as the Data Protection Supervisor for the Malta Tourism Authority and worked closely with a government task force on human trafficking law reforms. The current role is extremely important, as gambling accounts for roughly 10% of Malta’s economy.
Controvery Surrounding the Appointment
There is even more interesting Ryan Pace news that we need to point out. In the wake of Pace’s hiring, several industry insiders and politicians came out in opposition to the Ryan Pace promotion. Some saw the move as an indication the government wasn’t taking the MGA seriously and that it was undermining its reputation. His age and lack of gambling industry experience were cited as reasons.
According to local newspaper The Shift, an experienced gaming operator stated that the “appointment of someone who is a young graduate and has no experience in gaming does not increase the international respect that our jurisdiction has gained over the years.”
He also questioned what the government’s selection criteria for the role were, stating that competence and knowledge clearly weren’t a factor. He suggested that Pace’s loyalty to the leading party may have had something to do with it, and believed that this wasn’t the right course of action t take.
Three members of the Public Appointments Committee, Claudette Buttigieg, Karol Aquilina and Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, voted against the appointment. Notably, these were all MPs for the opposition party. Since his election, there have been relatively few scandals for the MGA, which couldn’t be said for the previous government’s appointments.
Pace’s Role Explained
It is the responsibility of the Malta Gaming Authority’s Directors to oversee the development of strategies, policies, functions, and objectives for the Malta Gaming Authority. It also must ensure that these objectives are achieved, and is consulted by the government on policy-related issues. As the Chairman of the Board, Ryan Pace must lead the strategic development of the MGA.
Shake-up at the MGA
Ryan Pace’s MGA hiring came at a shaky time for the Malta Gaming Authority, with several scandals hitting high-ranking members of the regulator. In December 2020, former CEO Heathcliff Farrugia was fired and later charged for associating with disgraced businessman Yorgen Fenech. The unrelated Jason Farrugia, former Chief Technology Officer, was fired at a similar time.
Heathcliff Farrugia was found to have been messaging Fenech, a casino owner, and sharing insider information about a rival casino operator. He had also discussed a recent money-laundering check at one of Fenech’s casinos. Fenech had recently been implicated in the murder of a journalist who was investigating his corrupt dealings with the government.
Heathcliff Farrugia was hit with corruption charges in early 2021 and replaced by another lawyer, Carl Brincat. CTO Jason Farrugia was fired after employees discovered that he’d been accessing sensitive information that he had no reason to access. It was later found that he had been sharing data with a former MGA employee and allegedly accepting bribes.
Jason Farrugia and his wife, Christine, were charged in May 2021 with a string of crimes related to their breaches, including money laundering, fraud, and accepting bribes. The court dates for all parties have yet to be set. These scandals came at a time of intense international scrutiny for the MGA, which had been criticized for not doing enough to prevent money laundering.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you still have questions about the Ryan Pace MGA chairman appointment, keep reading. Below, we have provided responses to some commonly asked questions about this topic so that you don’t have to read the whole article. If you’re looking for more detailed answers, use the links in each to jump up to the relevant sections.
1️⃣ Who is Ryan Pace?
Before he was appointed as chairman of the MGA Board of Directors, Ryan Pace earned a Doctor of Laws degree through the University of Malta. He was then granted a warrant to practice in the private legal firm of Prime Minister Robert Abela Before the Ryan Pace promotion, he held several board roles on government business committees.
2️⃣ When was Ryan Pace's new job as a chairman declared?
In April 2021, Pace was appointed Chairman of the MGA only a few months after Carl Brincat, another lawyer, was appointed as CEO of the regulator. Pace’s experience of acting in government law was a huge factor in his appointment, though there was plenty of opposition to his selection from opposition MPs and industry figures.
3️⃣ Why was Ryan Pace's promotion controversial?
What is interesting is that the Ryan Pace new job appointment was controversial. This is because Pace was relatively inexperienced with the gambling sector. Some accused the government of not taking the MGA seriously at a time when it was hit with scandals. His youth and loyalty to the government were also cited.
4️⃣ What is Ryan Pace's new job role?
As the Chairman of the Board of Directors, it’s Pace’s role to ensure that the Board’s objectives and strategies are outlined clearly, is enacted, and align with the government’s own policies and goals. The Board of Directors is responsible for strategising, overall risk management, and policy matters, and steering the course for the MGA’s operations.
5️⃣ Are there any other Ryan Pace's news and controversies?
In 2021, there were several scandals surrounding high-ranking employees of the MGA. The former CEO, Heathcliff Farrugia, was fired and later charged for sharing insider information with a businessman who was tied to the murder of a journalist. The former chief technology officer, Jason Farrugia, was also fired and charged with a series of corruption charges.