Don’t Touch Me! Why Contactless Payment Is The Way To Go For Clubbers

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With coronavirus restrictions lifted, young people across Malta are ready to make up for lost time this summer. After so many weeks of lockdown, they’ve got a hunger to live it up and party hard.  The spontaneous dancing that erupted at Surfside was proof positive of that. 

However, should things go back to just the way they were?  Are we truly done with the risk of coronavirus?

Nightclubs, parties, discos…these are all perfect places for a virus to spread. And there’s one way in particular that it can easily pass…cash. Whether it’s coins or paper money, cash passes from sweaty hand to sweaty hand to sweaty hand, like a bacterial relay race.

But, hey, it’s 2020! Is there a reason to use dirty old money in this day and age? It’s a system that’s 40,000 years old. Not only is it unhygenic, but it’s more easily forged and pinched. Also, according to the Economist, operating in cash costs a country an average of 0.5% of its GDP.

Fortunately, electronic payment technology is growing fast, and more and more bars and clubs are starting to use contactless card readers. And you won’t even have to worry about carrying a bulky leather wallet around with you, either. Now, smartphones and even smart watches can be used to transfer money. 

We picked the brains of some of the top local events organizers and artists around as to their thoughts of going cashless.

Matthew Degorgio (Owner of Gianpula Village), is keen on the change but believes it’ll have to be introduced gradually:

“We already offered both options, but we noticed most of  the foreign patrons paid with contactless. Moving forward, we are thinking of going exclusively contactless, but we’ll do it in stages. It will take  time, though. While places like Sliema and St. Julians would be ready for it,  other areas in Malta would still prefer using cash.”


While Matthew is keen to stay ahead of the curve, he has reservations about one form of contactless payment:

“As a company, we don’t use Revolut. We still feel BOV is a safer transaction to use. I don’t trust Revolut. I think it’s mainly for individuals doing small transactions, but for the business I prefer the security of BOV.”

Owen Spiteri from G7 Events, says that, while it’s natural for large parties, smaller events still need to adapt:

“Obviously contactless payments in events pre Covid were more popular in big mass events and concerts. Now with this new reality contactless seems to be the new norm so venues and promoters need to adjust and align for much smaller events too.


DJ and Vibe FM presenter Nate Darmanin thinks contactless payment at parties is long overdue:

“It should have been done long ago not now because of the Covid-19. You can get these wristbands and pay with them. I like the idea….. been doing it anyway myself.


However, Nate does see one obstacle to a full on implementation:

“The only problem with it is the fact that such technology is costly to set up and unless one is organising a festival or unless it is implemented for a number of nights (for example throughout summer), such technology isn’t yet feasible.”

Meanwhile, apps like Revolut mean that paying your friends back for drinks won’t involve trying to count euro coins in the middle of the dancefloor. No more jiggling pockets while your busting moves.

The move towards an increasingly cashless society would not only be a plus for hygiene but would be an effective way to keep track of your spending. If you had a heavy night out, you may not remember most of it in the morning, but a quick tap on your phone will show you just how much you splurged, and what on (tequila shots, most likely).

This digital record keeping would be a great deterrent against crime. As Mark Grech, from Sound Salon, says:

“This technology is vital as it will help the organizers monitor exactly what is happening in real time during the event from entry to exit and so on, and also reduce the risk of theft as all cash payments are eliminated.”


In the greater scheme of things, white collar crime can also be prevented: money laundering, fraud, tax evasion and the black market are all a lot harder without cash.

But then again, that’s the big picture.

At the end of the day, when it comes to partying this summer, contactless payment makes sense. It’s cleaner, faster and safer from pickpockets.

Ryan Cachia, local DJ/Producer and our very own social media guru, sees this as a step in the right direction for Malta:

“Contactless payment is the norm abroad, it’s got so many plusses… Faster service made even safer… It’s a no-brainer for me.”


If you’re a bar or club owner, invest in a contactless payment system. It’ll make things easier for customers and staff alike, and help prevent the spread of viruses. It’s even recommended by WHO, the World Health Organization. 

We’ll drink to that!


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