New strategy launched

Over the past decade, our industry has evolved rapidly and experienced many changes. Diverse factors influence how our members develop and deliver their products and services. They must consider regulations, technology, responsible gaming, cyber security, the illegal betting and gaming markets, sports integrity, consumer behavior, and preferences to name a few.

In this context, in 2023, the WLA Executive Committee decided to develop a five-year strategic plan which revisited and updated our purpose, vision and mission, to better serve our membership. This was achieved and approved.

In 2024, we began the first of the four-year roll out. It was a year of communication, of socializing and promoting the new WLA strategy, and the benefits it will provide to our members.  

This involved developing the new WLA video, which elaborates our:

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Key opinion leaders at WLA, who were part of the strategy development group, created a video to promote the new strategy, describing the benefits it will provide in their respective regional markets.

We used our different communications channels to promote the new strategy, including social media, the blog, WLA magazine, and our website.  

The key areas of focus aim to:  

• Further develop a clear value proposition that is distinct from that of the Regional Associations, while being complementary to each other.

• Strive to uphold industry integrity by continuing to expand and fine-tune our security and responsible gaming standards and certifications with increased participation.

• Provide expertise on relevant global topics.

• Reinforce good corporate citizenship.

New President and Executive Committee

During the WLA General Assembly, which took place at the World Lottery Summit in Paris, on October 24, a new President and Executive Committee were elected.

From left to right:

Jannie Haek, CEO, Loterie Nationale, Belgium (WLA ExCo)

Alessandro Pacciucci, SVP, IGT Lottery Operations, Italy (WLA ExCo)

Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director, Hong Kong Jockey Club, Hong Kong, SAR (WLA Regional Association Representative – APLA)

Robert Chvátal, CEO, Allwyn, Czech Republic (WLA ExCo)

Stéphane Pallez, President and CEO, La Française des Jeux, France (WLA ExCo)

Esmeralda Britton, President and CEO, Junta de Protección Social, Costa Rica (WLA ExCo)

Jesús Huerta Almendro, President and CEO, SELAE (WLA Regional Association Representative – EL)

Sue Van der Merwe, CEO and Managing Director, The Lottery Corporation, Australia (WLA ExCo)

Andreas Kötter, CEO of Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co. OHG, Germany (WLA President)

Younes El Mechrafi, CEO, La Marocaine des Jeux et des Sports, Morocco (WLA ExCo)

Rebecca Paul, President and CEO Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation (Immediate Past President)

Dramane Coulibaly, Directeur Général, Loterie Nationale de Côte d'Ivoire (LONACI) (WLA Regional Association Representative – ALA)

Javier Milián, President, Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia de El Salvador (WLA Regional Association Representative – CIBELAE)

Paul Erickson, President and CEO, Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WLA Regional Association Representative – NASPL)

Sarah Taylor, Executive Director, Hoosier Lottery, USA (WLA ExCo)

Other ExCo decisions: WLA welcomes new members

The WLA Executive meeting in London, UK was held in coordination with the WLA/EL Marketing Seminar. Other meetings were held in Marrakech, Morocco, in May, in Paris, France, in July and again in October, during the World Lottery Summit.  

Over the year, the Executive Committee approved a new Gold Contributor, 9 regular members, and 6 associate members.

Approved committee member nominations

The Executive Committee approved the following nominations:

Audit Committee

Paul Erickson, Chair

CSRC

Christina Hemker, Consultant for strategic communications, Department for Public Affairs, Corporate Communications and Responsible Gaming, Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co.OHG, and Kate Carlson, Director of CSR & Compliance, Hoosier Lottery, became members of the CSRC Working Group.

SRMC

Alessandro Paciucci, Chair  

Dato’ Lawrence Lim, Vice Chair

Lisa Love, California State Lottery, US, to the SRMC Technical Working Group (Security).

BISHRC

Fabian Garcia, Banca de Quinielas de Montevideo, Uruguay, and Antoine Beghin, Française des Jeux, France to the BISHR Committee.

ILBC

Robert Chvatal, Chair

The Audit Committee

The Audit Committee establishes the audit mandate and meets with an external auditor to obtain its report on a yearly basis.

In 2022, after an RFP process, a new Auditor was awarded a 2-year contract. The main purpose of changing auditors was to improve the processes and procedures of the Association. The contract was further extended in 2024, during the WLA General Meeting.

In 2024 the auditors did not identify any flaws.

New Honorary Member

Fabio Cairoli, past CEO of IGT Italy, was approved as an honorary member, posthumously, in Paris. He was on the WLA Executive Committee for many years, and hosted the very successful WLS 2014, in Rome, Italy.