Lotto receivers are being invited by the Lotto Receivers Union to sign a Seller Agreement with Maltco Lotteries Ltd, the company granted a seven-year licence to operate lottery games in Malta.

Through the agreement, lotto receivers would become the company's agents to sell its "products".

Maltco has been awarded the licence to operate national lottery games in terms of the Lotteries and Other Games Act, 2001. The licence agreement was signed last February.

A parallel agreement had been reached with the Lotto Receivers Union and officials of Union Haddiema Maghqudin under which all the current lotto kiosks would be retained.

LRU president Arthur Rossi said details of the agreement were cleared during discussions over the past weeks and the union was now inviting the receivers to sign.

The next step in the process now would be to create an online link between the 192 lotto offices and the company's operating centre.

MLL paid an upfront fee of Lm5 million on signing, and will pay another Lm3 million when they commence their operations in a few months' time, plus other annual and monthly licence and sales-related fees.

Apart from these sums, the government will receive an on-going percentage fee from the revenue of the games. There is a specific percentage for each game.

The shareholders of Maltco include Intralot, the Greek international lottery operator which owns 73 per cent, and two Maltese firms, the Players Group with 24 per cent, and Associated Supplies Ltd with three per cent.

The licence enables the company to operate all the games currently being run by the Lotto Department and other games for which Intralot have developed the know-how and software.

The lotto receivers may sign the Seller Agreement between today and April 2, at the Department of Public Lotto in Floriana today, or from Monday to Friday (not on March 31) at the offices of Ganado & Associates at 57, St Christopher Street, Valletta, between 8.30 a.m. and 7 p.m.