Belgian Loterie Nationale takes steps to protect retailers

Belgium’s Loterie Nationale has brought in a series of measures to support its retail network during the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic which has seen the country put into lockdown.

With all non-essential shops closed, the lottery has extended the deadline by with players can claim for winning tickets.

Furthermore, due to players shifting from cash to card payments, the due date by which retailers must pay sales commission to the lottery has also been postponed. This step was taken to ensure all card payments clear before the payments have to be made, to protect retailers’ finances.

The sums paid by retailers to the lottery have also been amended, to ensure retailers can cope with the decline in sales due to the virus.

Other planned payments from the network of partners to the lottery have also been temporarily put on hold. Retailers will also be paid increased commission for customers purchasing tickets for consecutive Lotto and EuroMillions draws.

In addition, Loterie Nationale has cancelled its mystery shopping campaign scheduled for April. This, it explained, is to ensure that with retailers’ floor space limited, the shops can be dedicated entirely to safe shopping for customers.

The lottery has also produced a new poster illustrating and summarising sanitary precautions shoppers have been advised to take by the government. This will be distributed across the retail network, to help slow the spread of the virus.