Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1272935
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 26 JULY 2020 13 COMMERCIAL Virtu looks at Malta's economic future with confidence VIRTU has full faith in the re- covery of Malta's post-COVID economy. Determination is a prerequisite for success. The company will be deploy- ing the M/V Jean De La Val- ette on the Malta-Sicily route between Valletta, Augusta and Catania in the first quarter 2021. The vessel will join the M/V Saint John Paul II which will continue to service the ports of Valletta and Pozzallo. This ad- ditional scheduled service is in response to the requirements of Maltese and Sicilian import- ers and exporters. A dual high speed service will prove to be a catalyst for bringing trade and tourism between Malta and Sicily back to pre-COVID lev- els and beyond. With a capacity of 800 pas- sengers and a garage for 156 vehicles or 60 vehicles and 20 trailers, the Jean De La Valette will be the second largest high speed RoPax deployed in the Mediterranean, second only to Virtu's flagship the M/V St John Paul II. The Jean De La Valette is currently chartered to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago serving as a "bridge" between the Sister Islands. Virtu Ferries operated throughout the pandemic lock- down, bringing essential goods to the Island, and it continues to do so with full observance of all health requirements, in- cluding social distancing dur- ing the entire voyage, embar- kation and disembarkation. Virtu Ferries takes this oppor- tunity to thank the Maltese and Italian authorities for their cooperation and trust. Maltco Lotteries announces a first in a series of exciting launches amid the COVID-19 pandemic MALTCO Lotteries announced the launch of E*SOCCER bet- ting, enriching its U*BET sports- book with one of the world's fastest growing virtual spectator sports. E*SOCCER will be avail- able across Maltco Lotteries' re- tail network offering top-notch responsible entertainment. This announcement comes shortly after the reopening of the Na- tional Lottery operator network following the shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through U*BET's E*SOC- CER, Maltco Lotteries will offer players the opportunity to bet on some of the most popular worldwide electronic football leagues of FIFA20, powered by SPORTRADAR. E*SOCCER is a groundbreaking sport in which authentic players and their respective teams compete for top prizes at the world's major sports tournaments. "Maltco Lotteries is always seeking to innovate and dif- ferentiate its offering by intro- ducing new games in Malta. INTRALOT has been instru- mental in our company's wide modernisation by providing us with next-generation solu- tions," Vasileios Kasiotakis, Maltco Lotteries' CEO, said. "As the pioneers of betting in Malta and having established U*BET as a leading and trust- ed brand, it was only natural for Maltco Lotteries to take the next step and expand its sports offering with electron- ic leagues. Our aim is to offer E*SOCCER players with a com- prehensive betting option that features a simple participation method, and to responsibly en- hance their player experience." INTRALOT Group CEO Chris Dimitriadis noted: "We are proud to see Maltco Lot- teries at the forefront of retail transformation elevating the digital experience of players. INTRALOT has built upon a broad portfolio of next-gener- ation solutions and operational expertise across verticals that enable lottery and gaming op- erators to forge new opportu- nities in unprecedented times and drive growth." E*SOCCER betting is available daily from Maltco Lotteries' fully opera- tional POS network, which has implemented social distancing measures, offering a safe envi- ronment in which players can choose among a vast portfolio of entertaining games, specifi- cally designed to comply with responsible gaming principles. For more information about E*SOCCER, players are en- couraged to visit our website and social media pages, or call Maltco Lotteries' Helpline at +356 23883333, Monday to Sunday from 6am to 8pm. About MALTCO LOTTERIES Maltco Lotteries, a modern and dynamic company estab- lished in 2003, holds the latest Licence and Concession to op- erate the National Lottery of Malta awarded in 2012. Maltco Lotteries provides high-qual- ity, innovative, and entertain- ing games (including lotteries, sports-betting, fast games and instant games) under the aus- pices of the Malta Gaming Au- thority (MGA). The company's POS network offers a friendly, secure and entertaining gam- ing environment, in which players can enjoy their favour- ite games, assisted by the high- ly-trained Maltco Lotteries Agents' client service. Maltco Lotteries has lever- aged INTRALOT's innovative technology and advanced ser- vices, ensuring security, trust- worthiness, transparency, and a superior gaming experience.