Malta's government faced pressure from the Lotto Receivers Union (L.R.U.) and the Gaming and Lotteries Agents Association (GLAA) over the appointment of a new National Lottery operator.
Both unions, operating under the umbrella of the Malta Chamber of SMEs, urged the government to “appoint an operator who will ensure the highest standards of governance and diligence in the evaluation of bids.”
With the existing ten-year concession with Maltco Lotteries nearing expiry, the unions emphasised the stakes involved, noting that approximately 210 lotto receivers and sellers, 465 seller assistants and their dependent families faced potential consequences.
The unions requested that the government prioritise the welfare of stakeholders over purely financial considerations, highlighting that lotto agents had participated in the lottery since its inception under the Public Lotto framework. They also referenced Malta's reputation at a sensitive time, urging the authorities to avoid any negative publicity that could further affect the sector's standing.