
Shaping the Future: Insights from the EL Innovation Seminar 2024
Bringing together EL members and key stakeholders from inside and outside the lottery sector, the biannual EL Innovation Seminar (9-11 October 2024) - hosted by Nederlandse Loterij in Rotterdam - explored the latest trends and technologies shaping the future of lottery innovation.

The seminar opened with a Keynote by AI expert Elin Hauge, who emphasised the importance of combining technology with human touch. Elin who described herself as a translator and a connector of dots in the fast-moving, complex landscape of AI, guided the audience through a number of paradigm shifts that AI is bringing to business and society, while clarifying that this tool is not yet the solution to any and all problems.
Although AI can enhance business processes and customer services, its true value comes when use thoughtfully, ensuring the human touch remains where it matters most.
The two day programme focused on four main verticals: reaching young and unserved audiences through more engaging lottery experiences; harnessing new technologies to innovate lottery offerings, exploring collaborations between lotteries and start up to drive fresh ideas. Additionally, the Seminar celebrated the 2024 EL Innovation Awards.
Reaching young and unserved audiences

Joeri Van den Bergh's inspiring presentation as a future consumer expert focused on how lotteries can attract the next generation - from Gen Z to millennials - by tailoring products to their unique preferences and interests.
Lottery best practices discussed further how to attract Gen Z with innovative products and adapted communication strategies, how to reinvent lotteries through engaging initiatives and how to transition non-digital audiences into the digital ecosystem.
Adapting new technologies for innovation
Insights from inside and outside the lottery sector underscored the need to balance innovation with risk management in the AI sphere. There is no doubt that AI is an asset to innovation - transforming and streamlining lottery operations and enhancing customer experiences – yet they should be used in the right way. Technological advancements in lottery gaming certainly offer new ways to captivate audiences.
Lotteries and Startups – What does it all mean?
The final segment offered insights from innovative lotteries that are collaborating with startups. Best practices shared lessons learnt for lotteries in scouting for the right startups to invest in and inspiring success stories from ventures like LEIA, Lotify, and Respo Vision showed how partnering with startups can open new doors for growth and experimentation.
Celebrating the best in lottery innovation!
Austrian Lotteries win EL Innovation Award 2024
The EL Innovation Awards 2024 saw a record number of submissions, with Austrian Lotteries awarded first place. Its innovative player protection suite stood out as a model of responsibility and was the worthy winner of this year’s award. During the Seminar, the top 10 submissions pitched their campaigns with trophies awarded to the top three lotteries.