Malta Allows Lottery Booths and Shops to Start Operating Again

The government of Malta has allowed lottery booths to resume operations, as the country begins to relax the strict social distancing measures initially implemented to prevent the spread of the ongoing pandemic.

The sweeping order under Legal Notice 76 of 2020 for a mandatory shutdown of gaming facilities was announced back on 17th March. Lotto booths, controlled gaming premises, betting shops, casinos, and bingo halls among other public gaming and entertainment facilities were forced to close temporarily.

Now that the rates of infection are significantly dropping in the country, the Maltese government saw it fit to start resuming operations of these spaces gradually but with strict protective measures.

Social Distancing and Sanitization Measures Still in Place

While lottery shops and booths have been permitted to start serving players again, residents are still supposed to adhere to social distancing and sanitization rules to make sure that they keep safe. The MGA (Malta Gaming Authority) recommended that all individuals who get into a lottery shop or booth have to wear a face mask. This applies to both players and employees running the premises.

At any given time only one player will be allowed per 10m2 of space in the store. For players queuing outside the premises, markers indicating a social distance of at least 2m should be placed.

Each entry point into the booths or shops will be required to have a hand sanitizer and information about MGA’s safety requirements is to be posted inside and around the gaming premises to keep patrons aware of the restrictions.

Not all Gaming Facilities are Open for Business Yet

While lotto venues have been allowed to start operating again, the Maltese government is still exceptionally cautious as they proceed forward. Thus, as a precaution, restrictions have been only been lifted or rather eased for lotto shops and booths alone as state officials continue to monitor the situation.

Unlike the shops and booths, lottery games that used to be televised from points of sale and booths, on the other hand, are still not permitted to reconvene operation. Moreover, all other gaming and gambling premises in the country remain under indefinite shutdown until the government says otherwise.

Like Nevada and its 50% occupancy regulations, it appears that the MGA is also preparing for casinos and other gaming and entertainment sports to get back to business. If anything, this is a sign that there’s light at the end of the tunnel even with the current crisis.

Meanwhile, as the government figures out a way to get things back to normal, online casino operators licensed by the MGA were reminded of their social responsibility duties at such a trying time. Licensees were notified to refrain from referring to the current situation whether directly or indirectly in their commercial communications as a means to attract more customers.