Interview with the WLA President on his first year in the role

Looking back at your first year as President, what important milestones were achieved?

My first year as President of the World Lottery Association has been about turning strategy into action. After the adoption of our new strategy in 2024, the following year saw concrete progress in several key areas.

One of our main priorities was strengthening the foundations of Responsible Gaming across the WLA community. With the continued rollout of Project RED, we provided members with practical tools, benchmarking opportunities and examples of best practice to further develop their player protection programs. At the same time, the WLA endorsed a new Corporate Responsibility Strategy, which provides a common framework for sustainability, responsible gaming and social impact throughout our global membership.

Security and trust were also key topics. Following the introduction of the updated WLA Security Control Standard (SCS:2024), we supported members through webinars and regional seminars to help them understand the new requirements and address challenges, such as cyber risks and the growing digitalization of operations.

Another important step was the progress made in our work against illegal gambling. Together with academic partners, including the University of Lausanne, we continued to develop a standardized method for estimating the scale of illegal gambling markets. Reliable data will be essential if we want to address this issue effectively in the future.

Overall, the past year strengthened WLA’s role as a global platform for cooperation, knowledge sharing and standards for regulated lotteries and sports betting operators.

Looking ahead, what will be the focus for 2026?

In 2026, we will continue to implement the strategic priorities we have set for the WLA while further strengthening the services we provide to our members.

We will place significant importance on enhancing our global data and knowledge tools. The Global Lottery Data Compendium has become an important reference for the industry, and we want to refine how this data is collected, analyzed and communicated. Establishing clearer KPIs and baselines will help us provide even more valuable insights for our members.

Responsible Gaming will remain a central pillar of our work. Through initiatives such as Project RED, we want to continue supporting members in strengthening their programs and promoting a strong culture of player protection across the entire lottery ecosystem.

We will also continue expanding our work on sustainability and governance topics, including guidance on corporate social responsibility (CSR), environmental, social and governance (ESG), and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

And of course, a major milestone will be to deliver the World Lottery Summit in Sydney, which will bring together the global lottery community to discuss the future of our industry.

The theme of this magazine focuses on emerging adults and related gambling risks. How is the WLA helping members address the concerns of this player group?

Emerging adults are an important group for the future of our industry, but also one that requires particular attention from a responsible gaming perspective.

People between the ages of 18 and their mid-twenties are often going through major life transitions—starting university, entering the workforce or becoming financially independent. These changes can influence behaviour and risk awareness, which is why it is important that lotteries approach this player group carefully and responsibly.

To support our members in this area, the WLA has launched a dedicated initiative focusing on emerging adult players. Together with academic experts, we have developed a research-based knowledge platform that provides insights, resources and practical examples from WLA members around the world.

The aim is to help lotteries better understand this audience and develop communication and responsible gaming approaches that are appropriate for younger adults—especially in increasingly digital environments.

Responsible Gaming has always been a core value for lotteries, and sharing knowledge internationally helps ensure that we continue to lead the industry in this area.

The WLA and EL Marketing Seminar in Barcelona highlighted the importance of content and storytelling. What challenges do WLA members face when communicating the societal benefits of lotteries, and how can these be overcome?

One of the great strengths of lotteries is the positive impact they have on society. Around the world, they generate significant funding for sports, culture, education and many other social initiatives.

However, communicating this impact can sometimes be challenging. In many jurisdictions, regulatory frameworks place strict limits on advertising and promotional communication. Germany is a good example: lotteries provide substantial funding for public purposes, but the legal framework significantly restricts how this contribution can be communicated to the public.

This is why content and storytelling are becoming increasingly important.

Instead of focusing only on products, lotteries should communicate the real stories behind their work—showing how lottery revenues support communities, fund important projects and create social value.

Transparency about how revenues are used, combined with authentic examples of funded initiatives, helps strengthen public trust and makes the societal role of lotteries more visible.

We developed Play for Society, an area on our website, dedicated to showcasing the excellent work of our members to raise funds and support good causes around the world. We encourage our members to send us their content so that we can share and promote this vital work.

We have begun the countdown to the World Lottery Summit in Sydney this November. What can attendees expect, and why should they not miss it?

The World Lottery Summit 2026 in Sydney will be one of the most important global gatherings for the regulated lottery and sports betting sector.

Held every two years, the Summit brings together leaders from lotteries, suppliers, regulators and partner organizations from around the world to discuss the most important developments in our industry.

The program will address a wide range of topics—from responsible gaming and security to technological innovation, sports integrity and the fight against illegal operators.

In addition to the conference program, the event will feature a major trade show presenting new technologies and solutions for the lottery and sports betting sector. Equally important is the opportunity for international exchange and networking among industry experts.

In a time when gambling markets are increasingly shaped by global developments, events like the World Lottery Summit are more important than ever. They allow us to share experiences, learn from one another and develop common approaches to the challenges ahead.