                  PUBLIC LOTTO   ġ CAP. 70.   1
CHAPTER 70
PUBLIC LOTTO ORDINANCE
To repeal and to re-enact with amendments the law relating to the Public
Lotto.
8th February, 1932
ORDINANCE II of 1932, as amended by Ordinances: VI of 1938; XXI of
1940, II of 1943, VII of 1946, VII of 1947; Acts: XVII of 1948, VII of 1949,
VII of 1950, XV of 1956; Emergency Ordinances: VI and XIV of 1958;
Ordinance XVII of 1961; Legal Notice 24 of 1962; Ordinance XXV of
1962; Act VI of 1962; Legal Notice 4 of 1963; Act VIII of 1964; Legal
Notice 46 of 1965; Acts: XXXI of 1966, XI of 1971, XVI of 1972; Legal
Notice 148 of 1975; and Acts: XIII of 1983, XXVI of 1988, II, VIII and
XXIV of 1990, XVI of 1997, VIII of 1998 and XI of 2000.
Title.
The public lotto is 
Government 
monopoly.
2. The public lotto is established as a Government monopoly. 
Administration of 
lotto entrusted to 
the Director of 
Public Lotto. 
Amended by: 
VII. 1949.7.
3. The administration of the lotto is entrusted to the Director
of Public Lotto under such regulations as shall be made from time
to time.
How lotto is 
played.
4. The lotto shall be played with the numbers from one to
ninety inclusively, of which five drawn at random in succession
shall determine the winnings.
Power of Minister 
responsible for 
finance to make 
regulations. 
Amended by: 
VII.1949.5; 
VII.1950.2; 
VI.1958.2; 
XVII.1961.3; 
XXV.1962.2; 
L.N. 24 of 1962; 
VIII.1964.2; 
L.N. 46 of 1965; 
XXXI.1966.2; 
XXIV. 1990.2.
5. The Minister responsible for finance may, from time to
time, make regulations, to be published in the Government Gazette,
for prescribing - 
( a ) the number of the offices authorized to receive the
stakes;
( b ) the day, the hour and the method of conducting the
periodical drawings, as well as the officials whose
presence will be necessary to legalise the same;
( c ) the stakes that may be laid on the result of each
drawing;
( d ) the amount of the lotto prizes;
( e ) the manner and the conditions in or under which stakes
may be accepted;
( f ) the day and the hour when stakes must no longer be
accepted;
( g ) the number, the duties and obligations of the receivers
of the stakes, and the percentage, or other
remuneration, which they will be allowed;
( h ) all other matters concerning the management of the
public lotto, including any matters the Minister may
deem necessary or expedient to regulate in
  2      CAP.  70. ħ                PUBLIC LOTTO
consequence of the computerization of the public
lotto;
( i ) anything that may or is to be prescribed.
Tickets to show 
proportion of the 
chances of 
winning.
6. Every ticket shall bear upon the face of it a statement in
Maltese of the proportion of the chances of winning.
Deposit of 
computer discs. 
Substituted by: 
VIII.1964.3. 
Amended by: 
XI.1971.2. 
Substituted by: 
XXIV. 1990.3.
7. (1) The computer discs containing the information
concerning the stakes shall be delivered by the receivers before the
drawing in such place, in the presence of such officials and under
such measures of security as may be prescribed.
(2) If for any cause whatsoever the discs aforesaid are not
delivered as provided in sub-article (1), or if the same are delivered
in a defective state, the stakes therein contained shall be considered
as void, and the person staking shall be entitled to a refund of the
amount staked against the delivery of the ticket.
Notice of 
winnings.  
Amended by: 
VII.1949.7.
8. (1) Notice of all winnings must be given to the Director
within thirty days from the date of the respective drawing.
(2) Moreover, the winner shall present the ticket for
examination and for the payment of the amount due which shall be
made on the date to be fixed by the officer in charge.
Time within which 
winnings may be 
claimed. 
Amended by. 
VII.1947.2; 
VII.1949.7; 
XXIV. 1990.4.
9. The right of claiming winnings shall be barred by the lapse
of thirty days from the date of the respective drawing and a claim
so barred may not be entertained by the Director:
Provided that if the last day of a claim period falls on a
Sunday or a public holiday, the period shall be extended until the
first following working day.
Conditions to 
which payment of 
winning is subject. 
Amended by: 
VIII.1964.4; 
XXXI.1966.2; 
XXIV. 1990.5.
10. The holder of a winning ticket shall not be entitled to
payment -
( a ) if the ticket is not whole, or if it contains any alteration
or correction of the numbers registered thereon; or
( b ) if it does not tally in all respects with the records
stored in the computer as may be prescribed:
Provided that, where the winning ticket is not whole, the
Minister responsible for finance may in his discretion authorise the
payment of the prize if he is satisfied that the part produced
contains the necessary elements to establish the authenticity of the
ticket or that the parts produced are parts of the same ticket and
contain such elements.
                  PUBLIC LOTTO   ġ CAP. 70.   3
Prohibition of 
public lotteries or 
tombolas. 
Substituted by: 
VII.1946.2. 
Amended by: 
VII.1947.3; 
VII.1949.2,4,6,7; 
VII.1950.3; 
XV.1956.2; 
VII.1958.2; 
XIV.1958.3; 
XXV.1962.2; 
L.N. 24 of 1962; 
L.N. 46 of 1965; 
XXXI.1966.2; 
XVI.1972.2; 
L.N. 148 of 1975; 
XIII.1983.4; 
XXVI.1988.2; 
II.1990.2; 
XXIV. 1990.6;
VIII. 1998.2;
XI.2000.26.
11. (1) ( a ) Every kind of public lottery or tombola is
prohibited, unless permission has been granted previously by the
Director of Public Lotto. In granting such permission the Director
of Public Lotto may impose such conditions as he may deem
expedient.
( b ) For the purposes of this Ordinance the expression
"lottery" shall include any scheme for distributing prizes under
which the recipients or the number or the amounts of the prizes are
set upon the outcome of a future uncertain event or of a
combination of future uncertain events, and which is not permitted
under any specific provision of law.
Duty leviable.
Director of Public Lotto on behalf of the Government of Malta: 
(i) in respect of the issue of a permit for the holding
of each public tombola session, a duty of fifteen
liri, or such duty as the Minister responsible for
finance may from time to time by Order in the
Gazette establish;
(ii) in respect of each public lottery a duty
equivalent to twenty five  per centum  of the
value, established to the satisfaction of the
Director of Public Lotto, of the prize or prizes
offered;
Provided that the Director of Public Lotto may grant
exemption from payment of the duty aforesaid in specific instances
when a public lottery or tombola is promoted and directed by any
society, institute or private person and the net proceeds thereof are
intended for a religious purpose approved by the competent local
Ecclesiastical Authorities, or for a charitable purpose, or for the
furtherance of the Boy Scout or Girl Guide movement, or for the
encouragement of fine arts, or for any other purpose approved in
writing by the Minister responsible for finance.
Power of entry.
any member of the Police Force below that rank duly authorized by
a superior officer, or any other person duly authorised by the
Director of Public Lotto to that effect, may enter any place where
he has reason to believe that a public lottery or tombola is being
held, with the object of seeing whether the provisions of this article
or any regulations made hereunder are being complied with.
Admission to 
public lotteries or 
tombolas only by 
means of tickets 
which comply with 
regulations.
(4) No person shall be admitted or allowed to take part in any
public lottery or tombola for the holding of which permission has
been granted as aforesaid, except by means of tickets or cards
which comply with the provisions of any regulations which the
Minister responsible for finance may make from time to time under
this article:
  4      CAP.  70. ħ                PUBLIC LOTTO
Provided that the Director of Public Lotto may, in cases of
permitted public lotteries where no such tickets or cards are
intended to be issued, grant exemption from this requirement on
such conditions as he may deem expedient.
Production of 
accounts of 
receipts and 
payments.
(5) Where permission has been granted under this article for
the holding of public tombolas or lotteries, the Director of Public
Lotto shall have the power to require the person to whom such
permission is granted to produce an account of the receipts and
payments in respect of such lotteries or tombolas, and to verify the
same on oath.
Power to make 
regulations.
(6) The Minister responsible for finance may make regulations
for securing the payment of duty leviable under this article and
generally for carrying the provisions of this article into effect and
in particular for the supply and use of tickets and stamps or for the
stamping and marking of tickets sent to be stamped or marked by
the Director of Public Lotto and for securing the defacement of
tickets or stamps when used.
Meaning of public 
lottery or tombola.
(7) Any lottery or tombola held on the premises of any club
shall, for the purposes of this article, be deemed to be a public
lottery or tombola, and the grantee of a permit to hold a public
tombola mentioned in paragraph (i) of sub-article (2) hereof shall
exhibit such permit in a place which is easily accessible for
inspection.
Offences and 
penalties.
(8) Any person guilty of an offence against the provisions of
this article and of any regulation made thereunder shall be liable to
a fine ( multa ) of five hundred liri or double the amount of duty
which should have been paid whichever is the greater.
Offences by 
associations of 
persons.
(9) Where a society or club is guilty of an offence against this
article or any regulations made thereunder, every president,
director, and other officer of such society or club who is knowingly
a party to the offence shall be guilty of an offence and liable to
punishment accordingly.
(10)  The Minister responsible for finance may remit or reduce
any penalty to which any person may have become liable under
sub-articles (8) and (9) whenever, in his discretion, he deems that
the circumstances of the case warrant such remission or reduction.
Payment into 
Consolidated 
Fund.
(11)  All duties levied and all penalties recovered under this
article shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
(12)  In the event that any prize in a public lottery or tombola is
not awarded for any reason whatsoever, or remains unclaimed for a
period of one month after the date of the draw, the value of such
prize shall be paid to the Director of the Public Lotto within two
months from the date of the draw, and shall be credited to an
account styled "Unclaimed Public Lottery and Tombola Prizes
Fund"; and any credit balance in the fund, or part thereof, shall be
distributed to philanthropic or charitable organizations or other
deserving causes, or transferred to the Consolidated Fund, as the
Minister may from time to time direct.
(13)  The Minister may make regulations by means of which he
may regulate the giving of permits for the opening of offices
                  PUBLIC LOTTO   ġ CAP. 70.   5
wherefrom lotteries may be organized on a regular basis and which
establish the manner of running such offices, the control to be
exercised on such offices and without prejudice to the
aforementioned he may by such regulations:
Cap. 400.
( a ) provide that such offices be under the supervision of
the Gaming Board established by the Gaming Act, and
of inspectors appointed thereunder;
( b ) provide for the, prevention against money laundering;
( c ) establish the tax which shall not exceed such tax
established in sub-article (2) which shall be paid on
games taking place at such offices; and
( d ) make any other provision which will ensure that games
are played fairly and that such offices are run by
suitable persons and that a proper account be held of
the activities of such offices.
Clandestine lotto. 
Amended by: 
XIII.1983.5; 
XXIV. 1990.7;
VIII. 1998.3. 
12. (1) Clandestine lotto, whatever the manner and the
denomination in or under which it may be conducted, is prohibited.
Such prohibition shall be applicable in the case of any clandestine
lotto conducted with promises of money or other prizes to the
stakers, or by means of the collection of or subscriptions to stakes
laid on combinations of numbers equal or similar to those of the
public lotto.
(2) Any person undertaking clandestine lotto or collecting
stakes thereon as aforesaid, and any person aiding or abetting the
same in any way, shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine ( multa ) of
not less than two thousand liri and not more than twenty thousand
liri and to imprisonment for a term from six to twelve months.
(3) Any person laying stakes, not being an accessory as
aforesaid, shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine ( multa ) of not less
than fifty liri and not exceeding two hundred liri.
Penalty for acting 
as lotto receiver 
without authority. 
Amended by: 
VII.1949.3; 
XXV.1962.2; 
L.N. 24 of 1962; 
XXXI. 1966.2; 
XIII.1983.5; 
XXIV.1990.7.
13. (1) No person, without being authorized to that effect by
the Minister responsible for finance, shall under any title or in any
manner whatsoever act as receiver of lotto stakes.
(2) Any person who offends against the provisions of sub-
article (1) shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine ( multa ) of not less
than one thousand liri and not exceeding five thousand liri or to
imprisonment for a term from six to twelve months or to both such
fine and imprisonment.
Penalty for selling, 
etc., lotto tickets in 
unauthorized 
places. 
Amended by: 
XIII.1983.5; 
XXIV. 1990.7. 
14. (1) No person may sell or offer for sale tickets of the
public lotto in any place other than that appointed for the purpose.
(2) Any person who offends against the provisions of this
article shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine ( multa ) of not less
than fifty liri and not exceeding two hundred liri.
(3) Any person staking or purchasing or subscribing to stakes
on tickets, in any place other than that appointed for the purpose,
shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine ( multa ) of not less than fifty
liri nor exceeding two hundred liri.
  6      CAP.  70. ħ                PUBLIC LOTTO
Penalty for selling, 
etc., foreign lottery 
tickets, etc. 
Amended by: 
XIII. 1983.5; 
XXIV. 1990.7;
VIII. 1998.4.
15. (1) It shall not be lawful to import, sell, distribute or
acquire for the purpose of sale in Malta, foreign lotto or lottery
tickets.
(2) Any person importing, selling, distributing or acquiring for
the purpose of sale, such tickets shall be liable, on conviction, to a
fine ( multa ) of not less than two thousand liri and not exceeding
twenty thousand liri and to imprisonment for a term from six
months to three years, or to both such fine and imprisonment.
(3) Any person acquiring, for the purpose of gambling, foreign
lotto or lottery tickets shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine
( multa ) of not less than fifty liri and not exceeding two hundred
liri.
Unauthorised 
possession of a 
clandestine lotto 
ticket, etc.
Added by:
VIII. 1998.5.
15A.  Any person found in unauthorised possession of any ticket
of clandestine lotto or of any foreign lotto or lottery shall, without
prejudice to the applicability of any other law, be liable on
conviction to a fine ( multa ) of not less than fifty liri.
Punishment where 
offender is a lotto 
receiver or his 
servant.
16. If the offender against any of the provisions of this
Ordinance is a receiver of lotto stakes or a person in his service the
maximum penalty shall be applied.
Punishment for 
second or 
subsequent 
offence. 
Cap.9.
17. Where the person convicted of an offence against the
provisions of this Ordinance is a recidivist, he shall be liable to the
punishment established for the offence of which he is so convicted
increased by one degree. Such increase shall be reckoned in
accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Code.
Saving as to higher 
punishments 
established in 
Criminal Code.
Cap. 9.
18. Where the fact constitutes an offence liable to a higher
punishment according to the Criminal Code, such higher
punishment shall be applied in lieu of the punishment established in
this Ordinance.
Seizure and 
forfeiture of 
registers, etc., 
relating to offence. 
Amended by: 
XVII.1948.2; 
VII.1949.4,7. 
19. (1) All registers, instruments of gaming, tickets, bills,
cards, money, whether it represents the pool or the stakes or the
prize won, the movable or immovable things provided as prizes,
and every other thing relating to the offence, or which has served or
was intended to serve for the commission of the offence shall be
seized and confiscated as against the persons unlawfully
undertaking the lotto, or collecting money for that purpose, or their
aiders and abettors, and from the persons laying stakes.
(2) Where proceedings for an offence under article 15 cannot,
by reason of age or other incapacity, be taken against a person in
whose name a prize in any foreign lotto or lottery has been won,
civil proceedings for the confiscation and forfeiture of the prize
won may, at the suit of the Director of Public Lotto, be taken
against the person having the charge of the person winning the
prize or against curators to be appointed for the purpose: and, if an
order is obtained for such confiscation and forfeiture, the prize or,
where the prize has not yet been paid, the right to collect such prize
shall vest in the Malta Government.
                  PUBLIC LOTTO   ġ CAP. 70.   7
Offences to be 
tried by Criminal 
Court of 
Magistrates. 
Amended by: 
VIII. 1990.3.
20. The Criminal Court of Magistrates shall be the competent
court to take cognizance of offences against the provisions of this
Ordinance.
Presumptive 
evidence.
Added by:
VIII. 1998.6.
20A.  Any person found in unauthorised possession of -
( a ) gaming instruments;
( b ) registers normally used in gaming; and
( c ) other effects or means normally used for the
undertaking of clandestine lotto like coupons, bills,
cards, matrices, counterfoils, payment tags, or of
clandestine lotto tickets in such a quantity as may
reasonably imply that such person is undertaking
clandestine lotto,
shall be presumed to be undertaking clandestine lotto unless the
contrary is proved.
Foreign lotto 
advertisements, 
etc. 
Amended by: 
XIII.1983.5; XXIV. 
1990.7.
21. Every manager and printer of any newspaper, every printer
and distributor of leaflets and every other person, publishing or
causing to be published any foreign lotto or lottery prospectus,
advertisement or drawing, or bringing to the knowledge of the
public the places where subscriptions thereto may be made, shall be
liable, on conviction, to a fine ( multa ) of not less than fifty liri and
not exceeding two hundred liri.
Constitution of 
Public Lotto Fund. 
Amended by: 
XXI. 1940.2; 
II.1943.2; 
VII.1946.3; 
VII. 1949.5,6; 
VI.1962.5; 
L.N. 4 of 1963; 
L.N. 46 of 1965; 
XXXI. 1966.2; 
XXIV.1990.8;
XVI.1997.8.
22. (1) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-article (11)
of article 11, all moneys received from the sale of tickets under this
Ordinance shall be paid into the Treasury and shall be credited to
an account to be kept in that department to be styled "Public Lotto
Fund".
(2) There shall be paid out of the Public Lotto Fund, without
the necessity of any further appropriation other than this
Ordinance, the prizes, the expenses of administration and all other
charges connected therewith; and the balance at the end of each
quarter shall be appropriated to the Consolidated Fund of Malta:
Provided that if at any time the balance to the credit of the
Public Lotto Fund shall prove insufficient to meet, either wholly or
in part, the payment of prizes, the expenses of administration and
other charges connected therewith, such balance shall be
supplemented by temporary advances from the Treasury Clearance
Fund of Malta by Warrants under the hand of the Minister
responsible for finance:
Provided further that the Minister may out of the Public
Lotto Fund make such contributions or other payments he may
deem appropriate in support of such bodies or organizations, or of
such other causes, as may be prescribed.
Cap. 174.
(3) A statement of the receipts and expenditure of the Public
Lotto Fund shall, as soon as possible after the close of each
financial year and in any case not later than three months after the
close of such year, be forwarded by the Accountant General to the
Auditor General, and article 65(2) of the Financial Administration
and Audit Act shall apply to such statement.
