WLA Security and Risk Management Committee ramps up activities in 2025
Around the world, the online lottery and sports betting industry continues to deliver products and services for booming global markets. At the same time, it is vital for WLA members to ensure that their operations and playing environments are safe and secure for everyone.
The WLA is committed to supporting members in achieving this, through the work of our Security and Risk Management Committee (SRMC), which developed and is responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the WLA Security Control Standard (WLA-SCS:2024), the only internationally recognized security standard for the lottery sector. The Committee also assists members in managing risks, through the elaboration of effective tools.
Interview with new SRMC Chair
In October 2024, Alessandro Paciucci (WLA Executive Committee Member since March 2023) took up his role as the Chair of the SRMC. Bringing 15 years of experience in the lottery industry Paciucci is SVP for Italy Lottery Operations, IGT Lottery S.p.A, and CEO for both LottoItalia and Lotterie Nazionali, his broad experience covers P&L, Retail and Digital Business, Strategy, Innovation, Marketing, Market Research, Digital Transformation, Supply Chain and Concessionaire Operations.
WLA Magazine caught up with him to find out more about the work of the Committee.
Why is the work of the SRMC so important to our industry?
The success of our industry relies on public trust. If the players don’t feel that our products and services are responsible, secure, fair and ensure randomness when it comes to lottery draws, they will stop playing.
In an increasingly digital world, where online gaming and betting continues to grow rapidly, the work of our Committee has never been more relevant. We follow trends and advancing technologies deployed by industry. We listen to our members and develop products and tools to address their needs and challenges, such as the WLA Security Control Standard (WLA SCS:2024), or the Risk Register and Risk Profiles to support their risk management activities.
As you take up this new role, what is the current status of the Committee?
Looking back, 2024 was a successful year with significant achievements.
We finalized and launched the next iteration of the WLA-SCS: 2024 standard, which was ratified by the WLA General Assembly during the World Lottery Summit 2024, in Paris. This takes a lot of work and is done every four years.
The new standard and accompanying documents, including the Guide to Certification and the Code of Practice were made available to members in a new and fully digitalized format.
On the risk management front, we have updated the Risk Register, adding 15 new risks covering cloud computing, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, drawing on emerging trends and global risk reports.
Important work was done to develop Risk Profiles for the key risk categories of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, illegal gaming, talent, licences and contracts, and disaster risks. Each Profile describes a risk, details the risk driver, and offers mitigation strategies. Each risk is rated using an assessment of the likelihood of the risk occurring and the consequence of its impact. A second round of Risk Profiles is currently under development.
We are keen to receive input from members in relation to the Risk Register and Risk Profiles.
A third risk management survey will be sent to members soon.
Certification by WLA Regular and Associate members continued to increase from the previous year and is more than half for both member types. This clearly demonstrates the growing sensitivity and awareness among our WLA members about the relevance and importance of this matter.
What topics will be the main focus for 2025?
Looking ahead, I aim to build on what our achievements in the following key areas:
Risk Register
We are in an environment where everything is changing fast: We will update the Risk Register with new risks and their individual profiles. We hope to get more input from lotteries that have not yet provided us with their feedback.
Improve awareness of SRMC work
The Committee is working to define new ways to achieve more effective communication to our members about security matters and use different communication channels to share this content.
The Committee launched a survey in March to all WLA lottery and sports betting members, to better understand which security and risk management topics are of interest, and which media channels they use, so that we can enhance our support and services.
Encourage members to complete certification to the WLA-SCS:2024
The security and integrity of gaming activities play a critical role in maintaining the public’s confidence and trust in our industry. To achieve this, it is vital that gaming operators in general develop and maintain a documented security and integrity environment.
Consequently, WLA members that have been assessed and comply with the WLA security control standard requirements can request certification. While the number of members certified to our security control standard continues to grow, we will work to increase the numbers in all global regions.
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