The 9th European Lotteries Congress – Day Theme: Vision

David Rowan, Julia Krysztofiak-Szopa and Katarzyna Młynarczyk are keynote speakers specializing in technology development, startups and social media who presented their speeches during the second day of the Congress. Members of the European Lotteries Association and the Congress Premium Partners’ representatives also participated in panel discussions and presentations. The Deputy Head of Unit at the European Commission, Harrie Temmink, was the guest of the day.

The second day of the Congress started with the address of EL President, Mr Hansjörg Höltkemeier, in which he focused on common values that successfully bind the members of the association together. He also emphasized the motto of the 9th edition of the Congress – “New Directions” – by saying that today the entire lottery sector is facing the challenge of searching for new market solutions, and the purpose of the Congress and the related trade fair is to help it find the answers and show it the right way. Next, Mr Olgierd Cieślik, CEO of Totalizator Sportowy – the co-host and co-organizer of the Congress – delivered his address. In his speech he continued the thought of Hansjörg Höltkemeier, underlining that the lottery sector must follow this fast-changing world in order to meet the expectations of its customers, e.g. by providing players with a sense of security in the times of the internet and Big Data.

Special guests also presented their stance during the Congress. David Rowan, the former WIRED UK editor delivered his speech on “Technologies & Trends In The World Today.” The world of technologies that can change even the simplest aspects of our lives was the key reference point in his speech. Another session involved the presentation by one of our keynote speakers, Ms Julia Krysztofiak-Szopa, Startup Poland CEO, who used her speech entitled “Lotteries as investors – new ideas gathering from market” to show how tech startups will soon play a key role in the lottery sector. “Social Media and Lotteries,” the subject tackled by keynote speaker Ms Katarzyna Młynarczyk, Socjomania (Poland), aroused the interest of many participants and launched a flurry of questions regarding the presence of lottery companies in social media.

The guest of the day was the Deputy Head of Unit at the European Commission, Mr Harrie Temmink, who talked about the shift in perception of the widely understood games industry by the European Commission.

The members of European Lotteries also participated in panel discussions. During the panel discussion entitled “Build to Win – How lottery restructuring can create new synergies and advantages” Mr Olli Sarekoski, CEO Veikkaus Oy, Mr Dermot Griffin, CEO, Premier Lotteries Ireland and Mr Kamil Ziegler, Executive Chairman of OPAP, Greece, talked about managing changes within large lottery organizations. The next session was devoted to “PR communication challenges and opportunities for lotteries.” The panel featured Ms Jutta Buyse, EL Deputy Secretary General, Mr Petri Lahesmaa, Project Director, The Beneficiaries of the Finnish Lottery, and Mr Olivier Alsteens, Chief Operations Officer, Loterie Nationale, Belgium. The official part was closed by a panel discussion entitled “Lottery, Community and Responsibility – Debate over the social mission of lotteries.” Participants in the panel – Mrs Stéphane Pallez, President and CEO, Franҫaise des Jeux, France, Mr Jannie Haek, CEO Loterie Nationale, Belgium, and Mr Edmundo Martinho, CEO Santa Casa, Portugal – talked about the social mission of lotteries.

There were also interesting discussions during the Premium Partners Sessions. Mr Robin Bowler, Government Markets Director, Playtech plc, Ms Lauren Iannarone, Head of Social Responsibility, Playtech plc and Mr Simo Dragicevic, Chief Executive Officer, Bet Buddy introduced the participants to the subject of “Responsible Gaming: New Directions in a Rapidly Changing World.” They talked about technological solutions for the lottery sector that provide new opportunities to reach new customers and new ways to develop lottery products and services. The session was hosted by Playtech PLC company.

The session entitled “Modernizing Lotteries in a digital world,” organized by INTRALOT company, focused on the key issues related to the vision of the lottery industry, and it featured the following special guests: Mr Tassos Evangelou, Global Sales Director Operational Excellence, DIAGEO, and Mr Guglielmo Angelozzi, CEO, Gamenet. The panel was moderated by Mr George Vassilaras, Retail Group Director, INTRALOT.

Throughout the day, the guests, Congress participants and the media had access to exhibition stands of almost 30 exhibitors who presented new technologies, products and services dedicated to the lottery industry.