Enhancing security and risk management support to members

The Security and Risk Management Committee (SRMC) developed and is responsible for managing the continuous improvement of the WLA Security Control Standard (WLA-SCS:2024) and overseeing the member certification to what is the only internationally recognized industry standard.

At the end of 2025, 89 of 165 WLA regular members (lottery and sports betting operators) were certified to the WLA-SCS, representing 54% of the total member lotteries, while 40 of 81 WLA Associate Members were certified to WLA-SCS, representing 49% of all Associate Members.

Helping lotteries manage risk

Raising awareness about enterprise risk management and providing information to initiate or update plans to recognize and anticipate risks, and minimize negative impact, are among the goals of the WLA Security and Risk Management Committee (SRMC).

The Lottery Risk Register was updated detailing lottery sector specific risks, and the Risk Profiles which describe key risks and ways to mitigation them, were shared with members, covering cloud computing and artificial intelligence. These tools assist members to protect their operations by better understanding potential risks and taking steps to address them.

The third member survey gathered input to determine the key risks facing members, to gauge risk management maturity levels within the industry and to understand how the Association can best assist members in developing and enhancing their risk management practices.

It revealed key challenges faced as: identifying emerging trends, regulatory complexity and compliance requirements and a lack of engagement with the risk management function and clarified the need for future support in the area of artificial intelligence in risk management.

Events for addressing security issues

WLA Webinar

In March, following the release of the latest WLA Security Control Standard in October 2024 (WLA-SCS:2024 Standard), WLA held the WLA-SCS:2024 Standard Webinar, to explain updates to the Standard and answer questions from participants, including auditors and WLA members from IT security and other roles within lottery and sports betting operations.

CIBELAE Webinar

In September, SRMC experts participated in the CIBELAE virtual workshop entitled: Strengthening Security Culture in Lotteries: From Diagnosis to Action, providing insights into the new Standard, security best practices, and underscoring the benefits and importance of certification to the WLA Security Control Standard, for individual operations and the industry as a whole.

WLA/EL Seminar

In October, the WLA and EL Security and Operational Risks Seminar held in Oslo, Norway, was hosted by Norsk Tipping AS and attracted over 80 participants, including 60 delegates from 27 countries of the five WLA regions.

Focusing on the theme: Trust in the Supply Chain: Resilience and Oversight, industry experts explored how lotteries and sports betting operators can strengthen the integrity of their operations, by building resilient supply chains and implementing robust oversight mechanisms.

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