Published: January 19, 2020

European Lotteries (EL) publishes 2018 Report on the Lottery Sector in Europe

ANNOUNCEMENT EL publishes 2018 Report on the Lottery Sector in Europe

Brussels, 13 January 2020 – In 2018 the Members of the European Lotteries Association provided an overview of how they work and demonstrated the importance of State Lotteries for society. This year’s 13th report is the most detailed regarding both EL members operating in the EU and EL members all together.

In 2018, the money contributed to society by 51 EL members in the EU (that reported their contributions) amounted to €18bn, channelled towards sports, culture, funds for other good causes and taxes for treasury. As for all reporting EL members (72 in total), their contribution to society amounted to €20bn in 2018.

This means that some 52 percent of the Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) generated by EL members (not including sponsorships) went back to society in the respective countries. Responsible gaming activities are an integral part of the core business of EL members.

In 2018 they continued to spend a significant effort on measures to prevent problem gambling. The report goes on to cover key descriptive statistics about current members operating in Europe in 2018. As EL members operate a variety of game activities, depending on their historic background, local legal conditions, or their positions in the market, the emphasis placed on particular gaming activities may differ from one member to another.

The report is available via The European Lotteries website here

ENDS

Contact For further information please contact: Lucy Lenaers-Mathieson, Communications Officer, European Lotteries, Brussels Tel: + 32 2 234 38 23, Mobile: +32 470 84 75 73, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Notes Common characteristics of members include, being located in Europe; holding state licenses for the country in which they operate, or are directly controlled by the state; returning a large part of their earnings in the form of taxes or a different type of contribution to the state and/or to state defined good causes in the areas of sport, education and culture, and; proving lottery games in a responsible way according to the requirements defined by the licensor and only within the area of their respective jurisdiction. About the European Lotteries The European Lotteries Association (EL) is the European umbrella organisation of national lotteries operating games of chance for the public benefit. EL has members from more than 40 European countries including all EU Member States. The association’s EU members contribute more than 20 billion EUR p.a. to the state budgets and the funding of sport, culture, social projects, research and other causes of general interest. Unlike many commercial online gambling operators, EL members only offer gambling and betting services in the jurisdictions in which they are licensed by the respective national government. Website: www.european-lotteries.org, Twitter @EuropeLotteries, LinkedIn