EL is the umbrella organisation of national lotteries operating games of chance
The European Lotteries Association (EL) is the European umbrella organisation of entities operating national lotteries and other games of chance, including sports betting. The members of EL are operating their services for the public benefit.
EL is the largest and most representative lottery and gambling sector’s organisation in Europe, present in 41 European countries with a total of 71 members, including all EU member states (50 members are in the EU and 21 non-EU member states).
EL stands for the sound and sustainable activity model for the benefit of society, based on the values of forward-thinking, sustainability and integrity. EL members only operate in those jurisdictions in which they are licensed by the state and where they comply with the legal requirements (e. g. anti-money laundering, responsible gaming policies, etc), and act as the most responsible operators in each jurisdiction.
Purpose
We promote and defend a sustainable lottery model, empowering our members to become successful and responsible organisations that inspire millions of players across Europe and generate funds for the public good.
Vision
United in diversity, EL will be recognised as an Association of responsible and successful members creating a far-reaching positive societal impact. EL will deliver outstanding services that understand and illuminate the times and future challenges of the lottery sector. It will help its members implement the highest standards of safe entertainment, support the sustainability transition and proactively facilitate innovation.
Members and employees will be proud tobe part of EL, and see it as a key long-term driver of their success, one that enhances their reputation and stakeholders’ trust.
EL will be known as a proactive expert organisation. It will be a stakeholder that actively participates in decision-making processes, based on a forward-looking vision regarding gambling sector and related policy areas. EL will lead and stimulate debate among its members to be forward thinking.
To defend a responsible lottery model based on player protection and harm minimisation, while acting for the benefit of society, EL will support its members on a supra-national level, for example with the EU Institutions and Council of Europe – and, where needed, on a national level. The lottery model is intrinsically about integrity. EL supports its members towards integrity in operations, in business conduct, towards players and society.
OUR CORE MESSAGE
For the Benefit of Society
Forward thinking
As a community, we are assertive, ambitious and open to new possibilities. We turn ideas into actions, and change into progress. We collaborate and share knowledge to shape what comes next. We adapt quickly, keep improving, and learn
from every challenge. We move forward responsibly, with awareness of the broader impact.
Sustainability
We are united with purpose for positive societal impact. We develop ambitious responsible gaming principles and promote their adoption within the sector. We strive for diversity, equality, environmental care and societal commitment in everything that we do. We engage stakeholders and build partnerships that thrive on mutual benefit, equality, and shared accountability, leading to solutions where everyone wins.
Integrity
Our Association operates ethically and in compliance with legal frameworks. We raise standards of excellence for ourselves and across our sector, with zero tolerance for unethical behaviour. We build trust through respect, clear positions and transparent communication. We safeguard security across systems, processes, and data, upholding to integrity in everything we do.
Our History
Lotteries are part of strong and longstanding national traditions and heritage. The first modern lottery game was organised in 1441 in Bruges (now Belgium). The oldest continously running lottery game in the world is the Dutch Staatsloterij, organised for the first time in 1726. Today the Staatsloterij is organized by EL's member Nederlandse Loterij. The European State Lotteries and Toto Association was created in 1983 in Switzerland. In 1999, the name The European Lotteries (EL) was adopted. EL is currently headquartered in Brussel, Belgium.
Our Governance
EL is governed by a General Assembly composed of all (regular) EL members. EL's work is managed by it's Executive Committee, including the President, two Vice-Presidents and the Secretary General and his team. Several working bodies are involved in the statutory tasks of EL. The main statutory tasks of EL are to advocate the interests of it's members as well as to offer a platform for education and training.
EL will deliver outstanding services that understand and illuminate the times and future challenges of lottery sector. It will help its members implement the highest standards of safe entertainment, lead the sustainability transition and proactively facilitate innovation.
Our Members
EL represents both state-owned and private operators offering lottery and betting services off-and-online. EL members only operate in the jurisdictions in which they are licensed by the respective national governments and where they pay all taxes and comply with the legal requirements (anti-money laundering, responsible gaming policies etc). EL members contribute to state budgets and the funding of sport, culture, social projects, research, and other causes of general interest.
