READ THE ANNUAL REPORT HERE

Despite the ongoing pandemic, 2021 saw inspiring innovations within our lottery community. There was the attitude to be flexible and agile, to adapt to unforeseen circumstances and to stand together, to help each other, and to work creatively and differently in unique circumstances. Lockdowns had differentiating effects on game verticals, and yet national lotteries continued providing regulated services to their players. EL Members continued to uphold their historic of society in times of need - from offering relief and welfare aid to providing medical supplies to the health care sector. 

At the time of writing the 2021 EL Annual Report, another crisis has unfolded in front of our eyes – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Once again national lotteries continue to live up to their values from providing medical supplies to housing for Ukrainian refugees in this crisis situation. 

Reconnecting in new and innovative ways

In this fourth edition of the EL Annual Report, EL reflects on a unique year. Services to its Members continued and offering a platform for the exchange of best practices was never more visible than in 2021.  EL reconnected with its Members more often and in a closer way than ever before. A wide range of online events brought them together, from smaller expert workshops and Working Group meetings to new e-learning modules, the EL virtual Corporate University and webinars reaching audiences in Europe and worldwide.

With the aim to improve the services to its Members, create added value to their Membership and of course eventually meet again in person, the overarching theme of ‘‘Reconnect’’ was unveiled as the new 2021-2023 Executive Committee workplan.

EL held a unique digital General Assembly and elected a new Executive Committee and re-elected the EL President. Player protection remained of utmost importance to national lotteries, and EL Members adopted mandatory Responsible Gaming Certification for all Members and an EL Resolution on CSR.

EL found innovative ways to provide an even better service-orientated approach. The MyEL environment introduced an easy to access and understandable overview of the relevant EU dossiers as well as a new library of Europe-wide studies on the gambling sector and markets.  

Advocating the sustainable lottery model

2021 also saw advocacy activities continue. EL remained vigilant and continued creative ways to reach EU policy makers on the hot topics in 2021 including the Digital Services Act, Artificial Intelligence and Anti-money laundering. EL debated the DSA in a dedicated webinar, bringing together EL’s experts on EU policy dossiers and a broad audience. 

In 2021 EL continued to monitor important legal issues from gambling advertising to taxation and Members remained committed to providing continuous care to channelling the gambling desire of the population towards and regulated and responsible offer of gambling products. In 2021 EL announced its collaboration with IP protection company White Bullet to help fight ad-funded piracy.