World Lottery Association holds its first Responsible Gaming and Security Seminar in China

 

Co-organized by Fudan University and supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the two-day event gathered 270 participants, including international experts and industry leaders, to discuss how responsible gaming frameworks, risk-based controls, and governance innovation can safeguard sustainable growth in today’s dynamic lottery and sports betting landscape.

 

 

In his opening speech, WLA President Andreas Kötter highlighted the significant role of WLA members in raising funds for charitable causes that positively impact people, communities, and societies worldwide, reaching nearly 95 billion in fiscal year 2024, according to the WLA Global Lottery Data Compendium.

 

Kötter also emphasized the important contributions of the Asian region, noting that one-third (33.3%) of the year-on-year revenue growth of WLA Regular Members came from the three WLA-member lottery and sports betting operators in China.

 

Other opening remarks were delivered by Dong Hongfang, Deputy Director of China Sports Lottery; Zhang Youwei, Deputy General Director of China Welfare Lottery; and Huang Rong, Associate Dean and Professor at the School of Management, Fudan University.

 

 

The WLA Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy for Responsible Gaming provides a comprehensive approach to promoting RG practices across the global lottery and sports betting ecosystem. It offers strategic direction to enhance RG programs among its members and positions the WLA as a reference center for Responsible Gaming within the gaming industry.

 

Lucile Goulard, WLA Deputy Director, explained how the WLA Responsible Gaming Framework enables sustainable lottery operations and positive social impact, outlining certification benefits, types, and levels.

 

Responsible Gaming supports sustainable growth by building trust and aligning with public interest objectives while protecting players. The framework certification provides a structured and credible pathway to integrate responsible gaming into governance, operations, and organizational culture, allowing members to demonstrate that player protection and social responsibility are integral to their operations. To date, more than 50% of WLA members have reached the highest certification level.

 

The process is independently assessed and strengthens trust, legitimacy, and long-term sustainability. Anne Pattberg, Chair of the WLA Independent RG Assessment Panel, addressed the evolution of global RG practices, trends, and the importance of meaningful stakeholder engagement to secure the license to operate.

 

 

Cybersecurity involves protecting systems, networks, and data from a wide range of threats, such as cyberattacks and unauthorized access, which can disrupt operations, cause financial losses, and damage the reputation of operators and the entire industry.

 

In an increasingly digital world—including online platforms, lottery terminals, betting systems, casinos, hospitality systems, and customer data—cybersecurity has become a strategic priority for business stability and trust. It is no longer just an IT issue, and standards help ensure that security, integrity, and risk management are embedded in governance, decision-making, and daily operations.

 

WLA CEO Luca Esposito, together with Fabien Marechal, Head of Corporate Cybersecurity at FDJ United (France) and member of the WLA Security and Risk Management Committee, presented the WLA Security Control Standard (WLA-SCS) and the Committee’s work in supporting members in risk management, including the Lottery Risk Register and risk profiles.

 

 

The WLA Security Control Standard (WLA-SCS:2024) is the only internationally recognized security standard for the regulated lottery and sports betting sector. It is designed to help WLA members achieve a level of security control aligned with generally accepted best practices and to increase confidence in the integrity of their operations.

 

The standard specifies the required practices for an effective security management structure that ensures the integrity, availability, and confidentiality of information critical to secure operations.

 

 

The WLA-SCS:2024 helps organizations transform security from an IT activity into a governance capability by:

 

Clarifying responsibilities at all levels

Ensuring consistency and discipline in management practices

Demonstrating professionalism, compliance, and reliability to regulators and authorities

 

It also provides a structured vocabulary and reference framework that is understandable for boards and senior management, executable for management and operational teams, concrete for IT and security specialists, and measurable for auditors and regulators.

 

Additionally, it enables clear definition of roles and responsibilities, assignment of ownership for risks, controls, and decisions, and ensures traceability from strategy to operations.

 

Through certification to the Security Control Standard, governance becomes institutional, repeatable, and defensible, without relying on specific individuals. This is particularly relevant for Chinese lotteries, which are public institutions with formal responsibilities to governments, regulators, and society.

 

During the event, WLA members shared experiences and perspectives on various aspects of their responsible gaming, security, and risk management operations, covering topics such as policies, employee programs, player education, minor protection, cybersecurity, and operational challenges.

 

 

The WLA thanked Fudan University and the Hong Kong Jockey Club for their support in organizing the seminar, as well as all speakers and participants, whose contributions made the event a great success.