Cap. 593 Art. 2Interpretation. Cap. 455.  Cap. 583.  Cap. 455.  Cap. 455

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

"athlete" means any person or group of persons participating in a sporting event;

"athlete support staff" means any coach, trainer, manager, agent, team staff, team official, medical or paramedical personnel working with or treating athletes participating in or preparing for a sporting event, and all other persons working with athletes;

"club" has the same meaning assigned to it by the Sports Act;

"club official" means any person who is the owner of, a shareholder in, an executive or a staff member of a club;

"gaming operator" means an operator providing a gaming service as defined in the Gaming Act;

"inside information" means important information of a precise nature relating, directly or indirectly, to any sporting event that a person possesses by virtue of his position in relation to a sport or sporting event, but does not include any information already published or which is common knowledge, easily accessible to interested members of the public or disclosed in accordance with the rules and regulations governing the relevant sporting event:

Provided that:

(i) for the purposes of this definition, information shall be deemed to be important if it is such that, if it were public, it would be likely to have a significant effect on the public’s perception of the more likely outcome and, or progress of a sporting event;

(ii) for the purposes of this definition, information shall be deemed to be of a precise nature if it indicates a circumstance or set of circumstances which exist or may reasonably be expected to come into existence, or an event which has occurred or may reasonably be expected to occur and/or if it is otherwise specific enough to enable a conclusion to be drawn as to the possible effect of that circumstance or set of circumstances or event on the more likely outcome or progress of a particular sporting event;

"Maltese sporting event" means:

(a) a sporting event organised by a sports organisation; or

(b) a sporting event in which a Maltese club or team is participating;

"manipulation of a sporting event" means an act or omission by virtue of which any person makes an intentional arrangement, aiming at or successfully accomplishing:

(a) the deliberate alteration of the outcome of any sporting event;

(b) the deliberate alteration of any of the aspects of a sporting event and the unpredictable nature of the sporting event, irrespective of whether such alteration affects the final outcome of the sporting event and whether such alteration, if any, is achieved as a direct or indirect consequence of the act or omission;

(c) the provision of inside information to third parties in a manner that assists or facilitates the commission of an offence against this Act;

(d) the actual acquisition of inside information with the intent of providing such information to third parties; or

(e) the aiding, abetting, encouragement and/or inducement in any other way, of third parties to commit any one or more of the aforementioned acts, which may result in an undue advantage or gain for that person or for others;

"match official" means any person who is the owner of, a shareholder in, an executive or a staff member of a national association or any other entity which organises and, or promotes sporting events, and includes referees, jury members and any other persons whose role is to ensure observance of the rules of the sporting event, or to assess the performance of the athletes, or to carry out functions which are ancillary or conducive thereto;

"Minister" means the Minister responsible for sport;

"national association" has the same meaning assigned to it by the Sports Act;

"person" means any physical person or body corporate;

"public officer" has the same meaning assigned to it by article 124 of the Constitution;

"sports organisations" means all sports organisations registered as such with SportMalta under the Sports Act.