California Lottery Earns Global Certification for Responsible Gaming - A Decade of Top Tier World Lottery Association Recognition
“Our World Lottery Association certifications reflect our unwavering commitment to responsible gaming and player protection,” said Harjinder K. Shergill Chima, Director of the California Lottery. “It is a commitment California’s public schools count on so we can provide supplemental funds to support students across our state.”
PRESS RELEASE
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2025
California Lottery Earns Global Certification for Responsible Gaming
A Decade of Top Tier World Lottery Association Recognition
SACRAMENTO – The California Lottery is proud to announce it has once again achieved the highest level of international recognition for its commitment to responsible gaming. The World Lottery Association (WLA) has officially recertified the California Lottery at Level Four—the top tier of the WLA Responsible Gaming Framework—valid through August 2028.
This prestigious certification underscores the Lottery’s ongoing dedication to player education, and ethical operations. The California Lottery was the first U.S. lottery to achieve Level Four certification and remains a national leader in responsible gaming practices The Lottery has been certified as a Level Four lottery for the past 10 years.
“Our World Lottery Association certifications reflect our unwavering commitment to responsible gaming and player protection,” said Harjinder K. Shergill Chima, Director of the California Lottery. “It is a commitment California’s public schools count on so we can provide supplemental funds to support students across our state.”
For the past 40 years, the Lottery has provided extra money to California public schools from kindergarten all the way through the community college, California State University and University of California level. Lottery funds support a wide range of programs and needs. Athletics, workforce readiness, music, dance, and technical education receive support through supplemental funding generated by the California Lottery. Those interested can see where California Lottery funds are directed by visiting calottery.com/who-benefits, where the Lottery hosts an interactive map, links to its most recent public financial reports and videos highlighting real impacts in specific schools in California.
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The mission of the California Lottery is to raise additional funding for public education, helping to supplement school budgets for K-12 as well as colleges and universities. The California Lottery has raised more than $46 billion for public schools through the responsible sale of its games since 1985. Lottery funding for schools is largely discretionary, so administrators and educators can use Lottery money for instructional programs and services they may not otherwise afford. The California Lottery features eight draw games and dozens of new instant Scratchers games each year. More than 95% of California Lottery sales revenue goes back to the community in the form of prize payments, retailer commissions and bonuses, and contributions to education. More information about who benefits can be found here. As jackpots rise, the California Lottery would like to remind players that ambling should be fun. Borrowing money to play, spending above a person’s budget, or using money intended for other purposes can ultimately lead to significant problems for players and their families. If a player recognizes that they have a gambling problem or if someone knows of someone who may have a problem, the Lottery recommends calling the California Problem Gambling Help Line at 1-800-GAMBLER.