The lottery and sports betting industry landscape is continually evolving. It is impacted by global and consumer trends, advances in technologies, changing regulations, and the growing global illegal gaming and betting sector.
These different aspects influence the way we develop and market our products and services, protect our reputation, provide safe, secure and responsible playing environments for all customers.
An important aspect of our role as a global association, is to provide members with pertinent information on industry trends and best practices, which we do through the work of the WLA Academy and Scholarship Program.
Our aim is to progress the global regulated lottery and sports betting ecosystem, and one way of achieving this is to provide value to our diverse member base through products, services and knowledge sharing.
WLA Academy activities
The WLA Academy provides a platform for our members to exchange experiences and learn from each other, as well as to gain invaluable insights from global industry experts through the webinars, seminars, trainings and workshops we organize in different global regions, for mid-level managers and entry level personnel on a range of industry relevant topics, such as:
- Technology and marketing
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Responsible Gaming certification
- Security certification
- Tackling illegal operators
Partnering with regional associations
We greatly appreciate the support and expertise of our Regional Associations partners: ALA, APLA, CIBELAE, EL and NASPL, with whom we also co-organize events. Taking place in their markets, the topics focus on the local landscape, trends and needs, for instance: regional regulations, consumer habits and specific products and services.
Additionally, we co-organize events around projects we collaborate on, with different partners, for instance:
- Maintaining sports integrity, (CoE, IOC, ULIS)
- Combatting illegal gaming and betting operators (UNIL)
To assist with the WLA with the Scholarship program, each Regional Association proposes a speaker/lecturer, a participating member, and a guest who is not a WLA member, from its region, for the Scholarship. Find out more about the process
WLA Scholarship program
The WLA Scholarship program was established in 2013 to provide a unique opportunity for lottery professionals to share their experiences and learn from peers and to broaden participation and perspectives at our events.
It offers financial support to member lotteries and encourages lottery professionals from around the world to take part in our events as speakers and for lottery staff to attend educational events as part of the audience.
Benefits of the Scholarship Program
Over the past year, more than 15 people from lotteries in all WLA regions attended events through the WLA Scholarship Program. Below are some comments from the participants:
2025 WLA/EL Marketing Seminar, Barcelona, Spain
“Thank you WLA for the opportunity to attend such an enriching event, whose experience and learning will undoubtedly contribute significantly to my professional development.”
– Valentina Francisca Ruz de la Cruz, Lotería de Concepción, Chile
WLS 2024, Paris France
“I would like to thank WLA for giving me the opportunity to live this incredible experience, at a summit that exceeded my expectations.”
– José Roberto García Avila Lotería Nacional México
2024 WLA/EL Sustainability – Responsible Gaming Seminar Dublin, Ireland
“Last year, the WLA gave me the opportunity to present our project, Un Ticket pour la Planète, at their Sustainability Seminar in Dublin, through the Scholarship program. This platform not only allowed me to share our lottery’s story but also provided a unique space to learn from other powerful initiatives led by lotteries worldwide. Each time I have had the chance to participate, I have gained valuable insights and built meaningful connections, fostering collaborations that might not have been possible otherwise.
The seminar was a true learning experience, with key takeaways that help our team grow. Some lotteries are far ahead in leveraging AI to enhance their impact, serving as case studies for others. The guidance shared, whether through best practices, personal experiences, or lessons from setbacks, is invaluable, offering actionable advice we can build upon.
As a representative of a smaller lottery in Mauritius, I feel incredibly grateful for this opportunity. Such platforms are rare for us, and I deeply appreciate the chance to engage, learn, and contribute to this global exchange of knowledge.”
– Virginie Pasnin, Lotto Brand Manager, Lottotech Ltd., Mauritius
“It's great to meet new friends and learn many interesting things in Dublin. I thank WLA and EL so much for this opportunity, I really appreciate it.”
– Nguyen Hoang Son, Deputy Head of Project Management Department, Vietlott, Vietnam
Find out more about the WLA Scholarship eligibility requirements and application
