WLA Magazine 53 (PDF)

No. 53 | Summer 2020 COVID-19 and the lottery sector 2 WLA magazine | No. 53 | Summer 2020 Contents Our resolve remains ﬁ rm 4–5 Interview with the President Th e COVID-19 pandemic has been a time of great stress and uncertainty for all of us. It has had a signifi - cant impact on both our personal and professional lives. 6–21 COVID-19: Industry facts But, looking back on the past weeks and seeing how and figures the global lottery community has come together un- A comprehensive assessment of the effect der the strain of the pandemic lockdown, the solidarity that the COVID-19 pandemic has had displayed by our industry off ers a hopeful prospect for on the global lottery industry, taken from the future. the WLA’s Quarterly Sales Indicator. Together with our members and our partners from the fi ve regional associa- 22–37 COVID-19: Perspectives tions, we have kept a close watch on the global course of the pandemic, how from the top lotteries and sports betting operators have been aff ected, and what measures Ten prominent lottery leaders share their have aff orded our member lotteries some relief. views on the current and lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Th is edition of the WLA magazine is the culmination of our research since the worldwide pandemic broke in March of this year. In addition to a comprehen- 38–41 COVID-19 and sports sive assessment taken from the WLA Quarterly Lottery Sales Indicator, we integrity surveyed 10 prominent lottery CEOs on how their organizations were aff ected GLMS adapts to the “new normal” by the pandemic lockdown and queried them on the best way forward for our in its mission to combat match fixing industry as a whole. and protect the integrity of sports. We also include an article from our partner association, the Global Lottery 42 COVID-19: The World Lottery Monitoring System (GLMS) that outlines their activities during the pandem- Summit postponed ic. Although most major sporting events were canceled during the lockdown, In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic GLMS remained active. Criminal organizations were not deterred by the pan- crisis, the WLA, NASPL, and BCLC demic, threatening the integrity of sports and deceiving punters through so- have agreed to postpone the World called ghost games or the feigning of actual games. GLMS also celebrated the Lottery Summit 2020 until 2022. opening of their third international hub in Montreal, Canada on 23 June, ex- tending their reach to the North American continent. With the already exist- 44–47 COVID-19: Digital ing integrity hubs in Copenhagen, Denmark, and in Hong Kong, GLMS has transformation taken one step further in the global fi ght against match fi xing and the preser- How the coronavirus pandemic lockdown vation of the integrity of sports. I wholeheartedly congratulate them on this has forced change upon our day-to-day lives. latest achievement. 48–49 Taking horse racing global While we are on the subject of sports integrity, I would like once again to thank The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s the EL and GLMS for their collaboration on the recent webinar “Solidarity, World Pool venture is revolutionizing community and alliance: Embodying a new culture of sports integrity”. With international horse racing. over 300 participants the event was a resounding success. 50–52 Playing responsibly Th e success of this webinar goes to show that the resolve of the world lottery The Florida Lottery’s new online community will not be broken by the coronavirus. Come what may, we will Player’s Guide helps players do all that we can to continue serving our members, with additional webinars, make responsible decisions about news updates, and various analyses on how the COVID-19 pandemic is aff ect- playing – and winning – the lottery. ing the lottery industry – how lottery sales have been impacted, what innova- tive marketing trends have emerged, and how our staff s have adapted to the 53–65 Corporate news “new normal”. News from members of the WLA Contributors Program and other WLA Associate Members. 66–67 The learning curve .Luca Esposito WLA Executive Director Cover photo: ffikretow/zentilia – istockphoto.com WLA magazine | No. 53 | Summer 2020 3 INTERVIEW WITH INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT PRESIDENT Governance in a time of crisis Interview with WLA President Rebecca Hargrove As the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc across the globe, we caught up with WLA President, Rebecca Hargrove to find out how the lottery industry has handled the crisis, and how the WLA members are responding to it. 1. Probably the biggest issue on everyone’s what did not work and why. We had to 4. If you could say there was a silver lining to mind internationally in the past weeks has fi gure out how to streamline operations this worldwide health crisis, what in your been the COVID-19 pandemic and the re- and workfl ows to adjust to leaner staff s opinion would that be? sulting lockdown. What is your impression of and work-at-home environments. At the First, I would like to off er my condolenc- how the lottery sector has dealt with this un- Tennessee Lottery, we found ways to be es to anyone across the world aff ected by precedented crisis on the whole? productive while working at home and this terrible virus. With all of our per- Well, it’s been diff erent for each and ev- staggering shift s so that we have a lower sonal and professional eff orts to limit ery one of us. Globally, we saw varying number of staff in the building at any one the spread of COVID-19, we should not impacts from Spain and Italy to New point in time. We found new ways to en- forget the lives lost and the toll corona- Zea land. In the U.S., New York has been gage employees. LinkedIn Learning even virus has taken on communities all over impacted diff erently than Tennessee, as commended our employees for their high the globe. an example. level of engagement with materials from LinkedIn Learning Courses. Sales reps If there is a silver lining to the lottery While the varying degrees of restrictions needed to service their retailers without industry during this crisis, it would be have impacted sales, the relationship be- visiting the stores or with fewer in-store the requirement to innovate. I have said tween the severity of the virus, the degree visits. As we return to full-service opera- before that the impetus to change and of safer-at-home initiatives, and the sales tions, business processes can be adjusted innovate is lowest when everything is go- of lottery tickets is not nearly as consistent and fi ne-tuned, and resources can be re-al- ing well. A crisis can be the catalyst to as you might think. In addition, the en- located to deliver a far higher level of qual- think diff erently about how we operate abling legislation that prescribes the terms ity and service to our retail partners. Th at and take more aggressive action. When and conditions under which a lottery op- leads to more funding for good causes and the world returns to normal, those inno- erates can have a profound eff ect on the more value to all our stakeholders. vations or adjustments can lead to more lottery’s ability to pivot in times of crisis. funding for good causes and more value Learning from those adjustments helps to all of our stakeholders. I think we’ve all tried to make the right any organization, but especially a lottery, adjustments given the particular set of survive during disruptive times. But you 5. As most of the data has shown thus far, lot- circumstances we’re each dealing with. have to capture it when the experience is teries with solid online gaming platforms Above all else, we want our audiences – fresh in everyone’s minds. were better able to weather the pandemic the public as well as lottery players and lockdown than those that do not off er online stakeholders – to know that we stand 3. Can state lotteries play an active role in gaming. Do you feel this crisis will force all shoulder to shoulder with them because supporting and protecting the public in the lotteries to push forward the execution of we are all in this together and that lotter- event of a second wave of the coronavirus strategic plans for digital operational excel- ies are not somehow immune to the pain pandemic? lence? of economic recession. Any enterprise can play an active role I would caution us before believing that by setting the best possible example and everyone needs to jumpstart their digi- 2. As president of a global association, you adhering to the guidance given by their tal operational plans because, as noted probably have a broader view on what has local health authorities. Yes, put up the earlier, multiple factors that vary across happened internationally in the industry signs and reminders to socially distance, jurisdictions can impact a lottery. Th at over the past three months than most. What to wash hands and to wear masks, but being said, we’re defi nitely moving quick- do you feel is the most important lesson we also actually practice those behaviors. By ly toward a world where very little actual have learned from the pandemic and what modeling the best behavior to take care cash is exchanged, but instead there are can we do to prepare for another potential of employees, customers and anyone else more debit or credit card transactions, lockdown should it come? the lottery comes into contact with, we or even with your phone or watch.

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