New Authorities of the European Lotteries Association Elected – The 9th European Lotteries Congress Has Begun

The appointment of Hansjörg HÖLTKEMEIER as the President of European Lotteries, election of the Executive Committee for another term of office, and the official opening of the 9th European Lotteries Congress were the key events that took place on Monday at the ICE Kraków Congress Centre.

The 9th European Lotteries Congress (EL 2017 “New Directions”) was officially launched on Monday. The ribbon-cutting ceremony officiated by President Hansjörg HÖLTKEMEIER – once again elected for a two-year term of office during the General Assembly of European Lotteries Association – marked the official opening of the Congress. The ceremony was co-hosted by the official representatives of Totalizator Sportowy, the Polish national betting operator and co-organizer of the Congress: Mr Olgierd Cieślik, CEO, and Mr Radosław Śmigulski, Member of the Management Board.

The General Assembly also elected the new Executive Committee of the European Lotteries Association. The newly elected members of the Committee are (in alphabetical order):

CHVÁTAL Robert, Chief Executive Officer, SAZKA a.s., Czech Republic

DAYAN Uzi, Chairman of the Board, MIFAL HAPAIS, Israel

GARCÍA Inmaculada, President and Chief Executive Officer, SOCIEDAD ESTATAL LOTERÍAS Y APUESTAS DEL ESTADO, Spain

HAEK Jannie, Chief Executive Officer, NATIONALE LOTERIJ/LOTERIE NATIONALE, Belgium

HÖLTKEMEIER Hansjörg, Co-Chief Executive Officer, DEUTSCHE KLASSENLOTTERIE BERLIN, Germany

KRIŽAN Franci, Member of the Board, LOTERIJA SLOVENIJE, d.d., Slovenia

MAGGI Giovanni Emilio, Director, SISAL Spa, Italy

MARTINHO Edmundo, Vice-President, SANTA CASA DA MISERICÓRDIA DE LISBOA, Portugal

PALLEZ Stéphane, President and Chief Executive Officer, LA FRANÇAISE DES JEUX, France

SAREKOSKI Olli, President and Chief Executive Officer, VEIKKAUS OY, Finland

VLASENKO Evgeniy, Vice- President, Member of the Board, MSL, Ukraine

Arjan VAN ‘T VEER is the Secretary to the Board.

The motto of this year’s edition – “New Directions” – perfectly reflects the themes the Congress and the lottery sector trade fair will revolve around. The event in Kraków provides a venue to bring key decision-makers and players in the lottery sector from all over the world together. In the years to come they will be making decisions regarding the lottery and gambling industry.

The opening of the Congress coincided with opening of the trade fair that will last 4 days and will feature displays by almost 30 international exhibitors. A 2,000 sqm exhibition space will host over 600 guests and accredited media representatives who will have access to a number of exhibition stands and presentations by: IGT, INTRALOT Group, Playtech PLC, NOVOMATIC Lottery Solutions GmbH, Scientific Games Corporation, Kambi and many other exhibitors.

The Opening Gala at the at ICE Congress Centre followed the official opening of the Congress. One of the much-awaited parts of the Gala was the presentation of this year’s themes of the successful Young Lions program providing opportunity for young talented lottery professionals to present fresh and innovative ideas across a range of current challenges facing the lottery sector.

Be sure to follow the official Twitter account throughout the duration of the Congress – EL 2017 Congress: twitter.com/ELCongress. This channel is available for all Congress participants, industry representatives and the media.