Global Lottery Organizations and Associations

Every year, prominent lottery associations host global conferences, exhibitions, and seminars that drive innovation and cooperation in the lottery industry. Among them, the World Lottery Summit (WLS) is the most prestigious. Let’s explore the global lottery organizations shaping this sector.

The Origins of the World Lottery Association (WLA)

Before the World Lottery Association (WLA) was formed, two key groups led the global lottery movement:

International Association of National Lottery Organizations (AILE) – Founded in 1954 in Canada. It aimed to foster cross-border exchange of ideas and experiences among national lotteries.
International Football and Lotto-type Lottery Organizations (Intertoto) – Founded in 1953 in Switzerland by 18 European sports lottery companies.

In August 1999, AILE and Intertoto merged to form the World Lottery Association (WLA), now the most authoritative global lottery body, with biannual conferences for operators and suppliers.

WLA’s Five Regional Members

1. North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL)

i. Founded: 1971
ii. Region: USA & Canada
iii. 2026 Highlights: Over 20,000 retailers in the U.S. with $80.5B in sales; Canada with 29,000+ retailers and $10.36B in sales.

2. European Lottery Association (EL)

i. Founded: 1983 (renamed in 1999)
ii. Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
iii. Members: 81 total (76 regular, 3 associates, 2 observers)

3. African Lottery Association (ALA)

i. Founded: 1981
ii. Members: 14

iii. Focus: Horse racing, instant tickets, job creation, and public welfare initiatives in health, education, and sports.

4. Latin American Lottery Association (CIBELAE)

i. Founded: 1988
ii. Members: 20 regular, 14 associates, 7 observers
iii. Goals: Promote collaboration, standardize member conduct, and combat illegal betting.

5. Asia-Pacific Lottery Association (APLA)

i. Founded: 2000
ii. Countries Represented: Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and more
iii. Members: 22 agencies across 13 countries