The European Lotteries

#ThrowbackThursday 🎥 During our recent EL Congress in Bern, we had the pleasure of welcoming Gabriella Civico, President of Civil Society Europe (CSE) and Director of the CEV-Centre for European Volunteering . Gabriella highlighted the important role that lotteries play in strengthening communities, noting that they are an essential part of the ecosystem supporting volunteering, civic engagement and social inclusion across Europe. 🤝 Collaboration between volunteering organisations and lottery-funded initiatives creates opportunities for people to connect, contribute and make a difference — values that lie at the heart of both sectors. Thank you CEV-Centre for European Volunteering for inviting us to your own Congress today in the European Parliament. We look forward to continued cooperation for the benefit of society! ✨ Stay tuned — 2026 will be the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development. #CEVCongress2025

‘’Lotteries as instruments of democracy, education, and civic life’’ 🎙️Today we’re at the European Parliament for the CEV-Centre for European Volunteering Autumn Volunteering Congress. #CEVCongress2025 🤝 During this morning’s session on service learning in youth policies, EL Secretary General Piet Van Baeveghem shared how lotteries serve as instruments of democracy, education, and civic life — channeling their proceeds to strengthen communities across Europe. Lotteries, as symbols of democratic decision-making give equal chances to every citizen and encourage broader civic participation. 📜 Referring to the Adoninno Committee, created to address the EU’s democratic deficit and bring Europe closer to its citizens, Piet noted that while the idea of a Europe-wide lottery emerged, member states preferred to keep their own national lotteries. He reaffirmed that lotteries are tools for community building. 📋 As part of its broader commitment to civil society, EL recently contributed to the European Commission’s Civil Society Strategy public consultation, emphasising the importance of recognising and safeguarding the model of lottery funding, which plays a vital role in supporting community and education projects across Europe. The CEV Congress brings together volunteering leaders and policymakers from across Europe to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and shape the future of volunteering. 👉 Discover the full programme here: https://lnkd.in/d9imvDbf

🎓 Back to School with the EL Corporate University! Registration is now open for the Induction Module, hosted by The National Lottery from 1-4 December 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. Open to EL Lottery and Associate Members, this face-to-face learning experience is designed for new entrants and “cadets” with up to three years of lottery experience. 💡 Why attend? ✅ Gain a full overview of how lotteries function. ✅ Explore key themes such as history, responsible gaming, innovation, PR & storytelling. ✅ Take part in interactive game design sessions and breakout discussions. ✅ Understand the regulatory and legal environment in which European lotteries operate. ✅ Build professional connections with peers from across the sector. Led by Ray Bates, EL Honorary President, the programme includes seasoned lottery experts and specialists in the field including, Jannie Haek, Laura DA SILVA GOMES, Richard Bateson, Roger Soleim, Jack Murray, Hana Barochova, Emily O'Kane, Bénédicte Lobelle, Christian Kalb, Philippe P. Vlaemminck, Piet Van Baeveghem and Lucy Lenaers-Mathieson. 📋 View the full programme & discover more about the speakers➡️ https://shorturl.at/oBGbY 📣 Register now ➡️ https://shorturl.at/HtnDC Check out the ELCU Alumni from last year's edition in Bucharest!

🎤 Today our Secretary General Piet Van Baeveghem delivered a keynote speech at OPAP Allwyn's conference on Responsible Gaming, bringing together leading voices from across Europe to foster meaningful dialogue on protecting players and promoting integrity in the gaming sector. 🏛️ Within a short distance of the Acropolis, Piet Van Baeveghem drew inspiration from Greek mythology - the story of Amalthea’s Cornucopia, symbolising abundance through moderation — to reflect on the values that guide the lottery model: fairness, integrity, solidarity, and responsibility. 🤝 📣 He reminded participants that lotteries are not just games of chance — they are a model for equality and community, returning benefits to society and operating under strict principles of responsible gaming and transparency. Responsible gaming is in the DNA of EL members, and the message remains clear ➡️ Protecting players and protecting the lottery model go hand in hand. All EL members are required to undergo a full audit everything three years. OPAP received a renewal of its certification in 2025 with an excellent score, confirming its role as one of the leading members when it comes to responsible gaming, with a very strong commitment to player protection.

🎉Its a wrap! Thank you for joining us in Vienna! Our 2025 Sustainability & Responsible Gaming Seminar with World Lottery Association (WLA) brought together many passionate voices. A special thank you to all the speakers and participants and to the Austrian Lotteries for hosting us. 💡 Check out the recap of the seminar : https://lnkd.in/eeFEbNPd 🌿 We encourage you to stay engaged and explore how you can make a difference within your lottery. The EL Environmental Initiative is just one example of a collective effort where every member’s actions matter. Thanks to Heidi Florence (digitalRG.com) and Mélissa Jacquérioz Steiner for showing how this initiative creates real impact for society and the planet. 👉 Learn more about the EL Environmental Initiative : https://lnkd.in/e_ns9Czw

Day 2 of the EL/World Lottery Association (WLA) Seminar in Vienna is underway! Today, we’re diving into the important themes of Responsible Gaming, Sport, and Environment - exploring how responsible gaming intersects with broader societal impact. ⚽ Dr. Jeffrey Derevensky delivered a powerful keynote on sports gambling among youth, highlighting the risks and strategies for harm reduction. Per Einar Karlsen (Norsk Tipping) shared best practices in preventive RG and anti-match-fixing education among athletes - an essential step in protecting integrity in sport. 🌍 We then launched our final seminar block focused on Environment where Nadia Lambiase inspired us with a keynote on the circular economy - a fresh vision for sustainable futures and Stefania Colombo showcased how lottery terminal design and lifecycle analysis reflect Brightstar Lottery’s commitment to sustainability. Finally, Kate Carlson highlighted how the Hoosier Lottery implements operational strategies that support a circular economy, focusing on waste reduction and resource efficiency. Food for thought, insight, innovation, and action - all with "Tomorrow in mind", the motto of our seminar.

Great discussions today at the EL/WLA event in Vienna on how lotteries can lead the way in measuring and reducing environmental impact. A special thank you to all who joined the session, the engagement and questions showed how critical this topic has become for our industry. 🌍 If you’re ready to go deeper, don’t miss the follow-up session: Calculation of Scope 3 Emissions – Environment with Karol De Decker from The National Lottery, Heidi Florence (Carbon Reporting Manager, digitalRG.com), and Mélissa Jacquérioz Steiner from The European Lotteries. 📅 Secure your spot and be part of the conversation on building a more sustainable lottery sector. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gNG68Cyh The European Lotteries Environmental Initiative World Lottery Association (WLA) CIBELAE - Corporación Iberoamericana de Loterías y Apuestas de Estado

Exploring the intersection of gaming, gambling, and responsible innovation. This afternoon, the EL/World Lottery Association (WLA) Sustainability and Responsible Gaming Seminar focused on how data, research, and risk assessment tools can help us better understand and protect players - especially younger ones. Dr. Michelle L. Malkin delivered a powerful keynote on gambling-related harms among emerging adults (18–24), emphasizing that effectively engaging emerging adults requires speaking their language - by tailoring terminology, tone, and tools to align with their values, lived experiences, and communication styles. Very inspiring! Other highlights of the day included: 🟢 Dr. Michael Kuebbeler (adesso SE) introduced a new Gaming & Gambling Risk Assessment Tool, designed to evaluate and score gambling products for safer design. 🟢 Julia Cloutier (Pollard Banknote Limited) shared how data can be used to personalize player experiences and detect early signs of unhealthy play - enabling timely, tailored interventions. 🟢 Stephanie McCummings (SCIENTIFIC GAMES) highlighted how gambling is evolving as recreation, and why lottery literacy and ongoing research are key to protecting the next generation and promoting healthy play. If we had to summarize the key outcome : To reduce gambling-related harm, we must combine data-driven insights, targeted prevention, and a deep understanding of player behaviour - especially among younger demographics. Stay tuned for more updates tomorrow!

The EL/World Lottery Association (WLA) Sustainability and Responsible Gaming Seminar is in full swing! This morning, we explored innovative ways to communicate with and protect young adults in the lottery sector. A big thank you to: 💠 Ida Mellbye Løvås for showing how Norsk Tipping uses social media to connect with youth 💠 Desiree Soto & Victor Baez for their impactful work on responsible gaming messaging to reduce gambling-related harm 💠 Oscar Castro Villar from la ONCE for introducing a creative hackathon that empowers university students to co-create responsible gaming messages We also heard from Christina Hemker, Vincent Perrotin, and Khalid Jones on the importance of early intervention, tailored messaging, and youth-focused strategies. These initiatives highlight how innovation and collaboration are key to building a safer gaming environment for the next generation.

🎯 Understanding the Next Generation: Insights from Occupational Psychology We’re moving forward with the programme of the EL/World Lottery Association (WLA) Sustainability and Responsible Gaming Seminar 2025 here in Vienna! In the lottery sector, staying relevant and responsible means deeply understanding the evolving mindsets of younger generations. Today, we had the privilege of hearing from keynote speaker Dr. Elisabeth Ponocny-Seliger, who offered a compelling, research-based overview of Gen Z and Gen Alpha. 🔍 Drawing from occupational psychology, Elisabeth highlighted what researchers broadly agree on so far: ✔️ These generations value authenticity, purpose, and mental well-being ✔️ They expect transparency, social responsibility, and digital fluency from the organisations they engage with ✔️ Their behaviours are shaped by rapid technological change, global awareness, and a desire for meaningful impact Her insights are a powerful reminder that to build a sustainable future, we must listen, adapt, and respond to the expectations of tomorrow’s players and citizens. 👏 Thank you also to Sarah Taylor, CPM, Piet Van Baeveghem, and Erwin Van Lambaart from hosting Austrian Lotteries for the inspiring welcome addresses.