Having suspended all physical sales of lottery tickets as a result of the rapid global spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Maltese government has now officially announced it will be permitting lotto booths to reopen.
The move comes as a result of the Mediterranean island beginning to relax its social distancing measures that were brought in to combat the spread of the virus, with Malta now lifting lotto sale restrictions exclusively for lottery booths and shops.
As a result of the exclusive nature of the restriction being lifted, all other gambling and gaming establishments are set to remain closed until the Maltese government makes further alterations to its COVID-19 combative measures.
With certain establishments now set to open, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has informed members of the public, including employees, who enter a lotto booth or shop that the wearing of face masks will become a non-negotiable requirement.
Furthermore, other safety measures have also been put in place to aid the reopening such as distancing measures within establishments. This will include limiting the number of entries allowed at any one time to one person per 10 square metres and the installation of white markers outside the store to indicate a minimum two-metre distance for those who will be queuing outside.
Signs providing information detailing these requirements are set to be posted in and around venues to provide a constant reminder to consumers and operators about the safety restrictions in place, and hand sanitizer will also be placed at the entrance of all establishments.