Supporting communities, strengthening democracy - Roundtable explores contribution of national lotteries to European democracy

Brussels, 15 September 2026 – Democracy is not only about voting. It is also about connecting people, fostering inclusion and building strong communities. This was a central conclusion of a roundtable held in Brussels on the occasion of the International Day of Democracy, bringing together seven organisations to discuss the contribution of national lotteries to civil society and European democracy. [1]

Participants highlighted that strong democracies depend not only on institutions, but also on a vibrant and independent civil society and the trust, solidarity and engagement that connect citizens. At a time of growing social fragmentation, pressure on resources and, in places, a narrowing civic space, stable and sustainable support for civil society has rarely been more important.

European lotteries have long contributed to this civic fabric. By returning proceeds to society – including a record €29.4 billion in 2024 – they support sport, culture, heritage, social initiatives and countless community organisations across Europe. In doing so, they help create spaces where people can come together, participate and engage in society, while providing organisations with stable, non-commercial funding that supports their independence and ability to plan for the long term.

The idea that lotteries can help bring Europe closer to its citizens is not new. In the mid-1980s, the Adonnino Committee’s vision of a “People’s Europe” proposed a Europe-wide lottery to support arts and culture – an early recognition of lotteries’ contribution to community-building and citizen engagement. [2]

That role remains relevant today. At the EL Congress in 2025, Count Herman Van Rompuy, President Emeritus of the European Council and former Prime Minister of Belgium, stated that “in times of crisis, the role of lotteries in supporting our society deserves, more than ever, special recognition in the Union.” [3]

The distinctive nature of lotteries has also been recognised from a legal perspective. Koen Lenaerts, President of the Court of Justice of the EU, has described lotteries as part of Europe’s cultural heritage that “play a role in shaping the European social fabric”, while highlighting the need for national authorities to protect players and social order. [4]

Across these different perspectives, a common thread emerges: national lotteries are long-standing contributors to Europe’s social fabric. The roundtable concluded that recognising and protecting the European lottery model is therefore not simply a sectoral interest. It means safeguarding a mechanism through which resources flow back into society, supporting civil society, participation and the communities on which resilient democracies depend.

The discussion also highlighted the potential for lotteries, rooted in communities and trusted by millions, to strengthen the connection between citizens, civil society and European institutions. Beyond their direct contribution through funding, lotteries can help amplify messages, listen to communities and support inclusion from grassroots to institutional level. Participants agreed on the value of reinforcing these shared messages collectively.

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Notes

1. The roundtable forms part of the Democracy Foward Inspirational Festival, organised by the Belgian National Lottery Fund for Democracy, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, and in partnership with BOZAR, BELvue, and the City of Brussels. Participating organisations in the roundtable include: European Movement International, ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy, ECAS – European Citizen Action Service, CEV - Centre for European Volunteering, EDF - European Disability Forum, ACLEU – Association of Charity Lotteries in Europe and EL.
2. The Adonnino Committee (“On a People’s Europe”), chaired by Pietro Adonnino, former Italian Member of the European Parliament. Established by the Fontainebleau European Council (1984), it delivered two reports in 1985 (“A People’s Europe”). More information here
3. Count Herman Van Rompuy, President Emeritus of the European Council and former Prime Minister of Belgium. Herman Van Rompuy, Keynote speaker at the EL Congress in Bern, September 2025.  & PGRI Magazine December 2025              
4. Koen Lenaerts, President of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), Journal de droiit européen, October 2024, speaking at the colloquium on lotteries in Europe organised by the National Lottery Belgium during the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, Brussels, 19 April 2024 & Parliament Magazine

Contact: Lucy Lenaers-Mathieson, EL Communications Officer, E-mail: lucy.mathieson@european-lotteries.eu