Delivering new strategy and strengthened support for members

The initiatives delivered strengthened our responsible gaming and security standards and related certification activities; deepened our relations with regional partners through increased event collaboration and other initiatives; broadened and increased the content we develop and enhanced the seminars and information sessions we provide members, to assist them in addressing important industry challenges.

Delivering on the new strategy underscores the importance of our purpose, which is to support our members in realizing their goals of raising funds to positively impact society in a responsible, safe manner, and our vision, to be recognized among key stakeholder groups, as the global lottery and betting game authority.

The integrity of our industry is always under threat from illegal gambling and sports betting operators. Over the year, our international project with the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Lausanne, to develop a Standardized Method for Estimating Illegal Gambling, advanced to the next stage.

With a pool of global expertise, the project unites diverse stakeholders from across our global community who are involved in efforts to combat illegal gaming and sports betting operators and uses innovative artificial intelligence technologies.

Recognizing the need to strengthen and evolve the WLA’s CSR and Responsible Gaming framework, 2025 also marked the rollout of the new CSR strategy, designed to better address emerging societal risks, support evidence-based action, and provide practical tools to members.

As part of this strategy, and in response to the increasingly critical issue of gambling-related risks among emerging adult populations worldwide (aged 18 to 24), we partnered with the East Carolina University Gambling Research and Policy Initiative. Together, we launched a dedicated platform entitled Reaching Emerging Adults, which provides our members and the broader public with resources, research, and practical guidance for emerging adult players and those supporting them.

Another key CSRC initiative under this renewed CSR strategy, Project RED – Responsible, Ethical and Dynamic – was launched in collaboration with our Regional Association Partners. The platform enables our member lottery and sports betting operators to learn from others to improve their own practices; connect with peers for direct exchanges; understand trends; and carry out benchmarking. This unique tool offers members access to a directory, case studies, and benchmarking data.

Following the launch of the fully digital Global Lottery Data Compendium at the end of 2024, we focused on promoting this key resource throughout the year. The Compendium provides comprehensive, accurate, and timely data for the global state-regulated lottery and sports betting sector, thanks to the data provided almost entirely from our members.

In September we held our first webinar, which gave an overview and demonstration of new features, previously unavailable in the printed issue, including the currency converter, language options, heat maps, and links to even more data.

In order to support our increased activities and content development, we rolled out our new communications platform, where visitors can find all publications. It also houses information hubs for the work of our four committees, on combatting illegal operators, CSR and Responsible Gaming, security and risk management and betting integrity for sports and horse racing, including latest news updates, guides and standards.

We also developed a new resource area dedicated to the Compendium, with video guides for the online version, past issues, and the webinar recording; a section for Play for Society, which promotes the good causes supported by our members around the world, and our biennial landmark event, the World Lottery Summit.

On this final topic, the WLA and host lottery The Lottery Corporation made great progress on preparations for the World Lottery Summit 2026, to be held in Sydney, Australia. The excellent business program and tradeshow, to be held at the International Convention Center on the harbor, and the exceptional locations for our social program will make it a truly inspiring event.

In closing, I wish to thank Loterie Romande and Loto Québec, on behalf of the WLA and ULIS, for their valuable support across human resources, IT, and accounting, and for graciously providing office space to both associations.