12 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 PGRI INTERVIEWS Paul Jason: You played a major role in the global lottery industry for many years. How has your view of the industry changed as a result of your experience as president of the WLA? Rebecca Paul: It’s truly an honor and a pleasure to serve in this role. Throughout my lottery career, I have always been impressed by the benefits our industry brings to communities. But my experience on the WLA Executive Committee and now as WLA president has given me the opportunity to focus on and interact with all regions around the world, which has been an incredible experience. And what I’ve found is that every lottery, no matter how big or small, old or young, is dedicated to its mission and eager to join forces with one another to strengthen our industry as a whole. I’ve seen collaboration between organizations that appear to have little in common—but are open to learning from each other’s strengths and weaknesses to evolve in a positive direction. Variances between regulatory structures, political climates, gaming cultures and more exist from market-to-market around the world, but I’ve been impressed with how these differences do not stop us from learning from one another. And from this experience, my belief in the foundation WLA has laid and the endless potential we have by working together has never been stronger. I’m excited about the accomplishments we have made over the years and confident in our universal commitment to continuous improvement. Ultimately, our strength as an industry is reflected in the benefits we provide to stakeholders who depend on the funds we generate. Opportunities abound, and the platform for sustainable growth has never been stronger. Is the future rich with opportunity, but perhaps fraught with uncertainty? R. Paul: Definitely. And the time we live in now is probably even more disruptive than usual. But uncertainty goes with the territory, and it’s our job to navigate through challenges, identify opportunities, clarify action plans, and execute. We’re fortunate that we’re not alone. We have colleagues around the world who are facing similar challenges. And we’re all working hard to meet and exceed our short-term financial obligations while positioning our organizations for long-term success. I hope to see all of you at the World Lottery Summit in Vancouver in October. There, you will see what I mean. The event features world-class speakers who connect global trends and big-picture themes to our own industry, and the break-out sessions that PGRI INTRODUCTION: Rebecca Paul’s lottery career started in 1985 with her appointment to lead the Illinois Lottery. She then went on to lead the start of the Florida Lottery in 1987, the Georgia Lottery in 1993, and the Tennessee Lottery in 2003. She was elected as president of the World Lottery Association (WLA) in 2018. As one industry friend puts it: “Like Buffet, Gates, Jobs, and Cher, you only need to use one part of her name – “Rebecca” – for everyone to know who you mean and to appreciate the woman who has done as much for our industry as anyone, helping to raise billions of dollars for education and other good causes.” Thirty-seven years: reflections on partnerships, progress and learning from each other Rebecca Paul President & CEO, Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation President, World Lottery Association (WLA) Chair & Founder, Women’s Initiative in Lottery Leadership (WILL) Above: Illinois Gov. James Thompson and Rebecca are all smiles following her 1985 appointment as director of the state’s lottery. Below: Rebecca was quickly recognized for using her coaching skills to build a strong “dream team” at the Illinois Lottery.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTg4MTM=