2024 EUROPEAN LOTTERY INDUSTRY DAYS SHOW POSITIVE SOCIAL EFFECTS AND BEST PRACTICES IN THE INDUSTRY

To mark the tenth anniversary of the European Lottery Days, this year’s theme in Salzburg also bridged the gap between tradition and modernity, with a particular focus on responsibility and the positive social impact of the sector.

The European Lottery Association (EL) plays a key role in ensuring that services and offerings in the lottery industry conform to a sound and sustainable operating model for the benefit of society, in line with the values of sustainability, integrity and an orientation toward the future.

As this year’s host, Austrian Lotteries, with Director General Erwin van Lambaart and CEO Martin Skopek, was also able to give all participants an insight into how the highest standards for player protection and integrity, correct game processing, combating corruption and money laundering as well as a high level of data protection compliance go perfectly hand in hand. These requirements are considered essential for a licensed gaming company both in Austria and in all other participating countries – be it with regard to player protection, sports promotion or corporate social responsibility activities.
Erwin van Lambaart, Director General of Casinos Austria and Chairman of the Managing Board of Austrian Lotteries, had this to say: “This year’s focus also has a special significance for us as the host lottery. As a company, we are committed to social causes, but also to culture, sports and the arts. We want to continue to launch new initiatives and innovations here in future in order to clearly demonstrate that, in the gaming and entertainment sector, we in Austria are the best partner FOR Austria. We also congratulate Romana Girandon, President of European Lotteries, and the members of the European Lottery Executive Committee, who have put together a comprehensive programme on the current trends and challenges facing our industry this year.”

This year’s motto of the European Lottery Industry Days, “Creating positive social impact”, focuses on this key aspect of state-licensed lotteries and highlights the socio-political and economic impact they have in the respective member states, as well as the impact the industry has on the society’s greater good. The European Lotteries are an important partner in Europe, both for the European institutions and for society as a whole. They combine responsibility with significant social and societal added value and place European interests at the centre of their activities. As state-licensed national lotteries, the European lotteries are available as a reliable partner in the EU member states and beyond.
Martin Škopek, Director of the Board of Casinos Austria AG and Austrian Lotteries adds: “As a state-licensed lottery company, in Austria we’ve placed greater emphasis on this aspect in all our areas of responsibility and launched new initiatives, innovations and investments to clearly demonstrate that the Austrian Lotteries Group continues to be the best partner for Austria in the gaming and entertainment sector. “Playsponsible – Practicing Responsibility Together” is not just a motto, but the guiding principle behind all of our business activities, be it in the area of player protection, as a sponsoring partner, in social commitment or as one of Austria’s biggest taxpayers.”

In the two decades that the Industry Days have been organised, the lottery sector has changed considerably, but from the first edition in Granada to this year’s event, one thing has remained the same: the mission of all EL members to make a positive contribution to society. With the highest standards to protect players and maintain the integrity of the games offered, EL members are committed to make a positive social impact. This year’s event offers a programme that provides an opportunity to exchange ideas and present important results and best practices from the industry. Additional information can be found at www.european-lotteries.org/events/el-industry-days-2024-salzburg.  

About the European Lottery Association

The European Lottery Association (EL) is the European umbrella organisation for national lotteries that offer games of chance, including sports betting. The members of the EL provide their services for the benefit of the general public. The EL is the largest and the European lottery and gaming sector’s most representative organisation. It is represented in 39 European countries with a total of 70 members, including all EU member states (50 members are in the EU and 20 in non-EU countries). EL stands for a solid, sustainable business model for the benefit of society, based on the values of sustainability, integrity, and an orientation toward the future.