As a founding member of the ULIS (United Lotteries for Integrity in Sport), EL has participated in this year’s Integrity Seminar in Lausanne.

In a dedicated panel discussion several EL members and national regulators came together to address the fight against illegals, one of the most pressing challenges in the sports and betting sector.

Lotteries and their national regulatory authorities share a common mission – to ensure a safe and secure environment for players. Yet, a significant challenge is the risk of overregulation. Panelists highlighted that striking the right balance of regulatory frameworks is essential to channel players towards safe and responsible betting products while upholding the highest standards of responsible gaming.

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Global Challenge Requires International Collaboration

While national-level cooperation between lotteries and regulators remains crucial, the global nature of sports betting requires a broader, international approach. The panel emphasised the importance of the Macolin Convention, which offers a clear definition of “illegal sports betting” as any sports betting activity whose type or operator is not allowed under the applicable law of the jurisdiction where the consumer is located.

Key Takeaways from Panelists

The panelists including Jean-Luc Moner-Banet, CEO, Loterie Romande, Jens Nielsen, Sports Betting Director, Danske Spil, Andreas Arver, Integrity Officer, Svenska Spel and Simon Pedersen, Chief Adviser, Illegal Gambling, Match-Fixing & Market Statistics, Danish Gambling Authority, shed light on collaborative efforts to protect the integrity of sports and ensure fair play for all stakeholders. The panel was moderated by Alvise Angelini, EL’s Senior Policy Officer & Sport Secretary.

Jean-Luc Moner Banet stressed the importance of public awareness in combating illegal betting. Loterie Romande, as all other national lotteries, faces a continuous challenge: remaining attractive while at the same time mitigating the risks associated with gambling. By maintaining this balance, national lotteries can safeguard players, ensure sustainability, and contribute profits to the public good.

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Panelists also agreed that certain sports, particularly smaller events and lower leagues, are more vulnerable to illegal betting activities. Lotteries play a key role here, for example with financial support, resources and knowledge to protect sports integrity, athletes and to fight the penetration of illegal betting offers.

Pollard Banknote Limited has announced its involvement in the 2024 Gift Responsibly Campaign, joining lotteries and organisations across North America and around the world to raise awareness about the risks associated with underage gambling. Presented by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), the campaign is supported by the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) and receives endorsements from the World Lottery Association (WLA) and European Lotteries (EL).

As a leader in the global gaming industry, Pollard Banknote is deeply committed to helping its lottery partners and charitable gaming customers maximize revenues for good causes, while encouraging players to play within their limits. With more than four decades of lottery experience and leadership, Pollard Banknote understands that supporting responsible gaming requires a complete ecosystem that involves education, lottery team knowledge and awareness, a robust communications plan and the right tools to enable lotteries to promote a positive play experience, while calling attention to the harms of problem gambling.

Responsible gaming policies and practices are an intrinsic part of Pollard Banknote’s entire product portfolio—from instant scratch tickets carefully designed to appeal strictly to adults, to state-of-the-art safeguards and controls incorporated into its digital solutions, including its omnichannel Pollard Catalyst Gaming Platform—ensuring that Pollard Banknote’s products protect players and comply with the most stringent standards on the market. As additional testaments to its ongoing commitment to responsible gaming, Pollard Banknote holds an Associate Member World Lottery Association (WLA) Responsible Gaming certification, engages in responsible gaming training sessions with NCPG and recently formed an internal responsible gaming committee.

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“Pollard Banknote is proud to once again participate in the Gift Responsibly Campaign. As an organization, it is our goal to provide socially responsible tools and practices that protect players while maximizing proceeds for good causes. This involves working alongside the NCPG, WLA, and our lottery customers to promote safe and responsible gambling initiatives, not only during the upcoming holiday season, but throughout the year,” said Doug Pollard, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Pollard Banknote.

“The potential long-term risks associated with underage gambling exposure cannot be understated. We applaud Pollard Banknote for their commitment to raising awareness about the risks of youth gambling and for working to educate the community that lottery tickets are never appropriate gifts for children,” Keith Whyte, NCPG Executive Director.

Since the early 2000s, the Gift Responsibly Campaign has worked to educate the public about the risks of underage gambling. The 2024 campaign runs from November through the end of December, with participating lotteries and community organisations engaging in public awareness activities to promote responsible gambling practices during the winter holidays and all year long.