A ‘year like no other’ for lotteries

The European Lotteries association said it was “a year like no other” in 2020, as the industry faced the biggest health, economic and social crisis in recent history.

Reflecting on 2020 in its latest report, the association said the industry continued to support society, adapting quickly to a “new normal.”

It moved from physical events to online meetings and developed a new website and e-learning platform, emphasising that the association could continue to service members. The e-learning platform is available now in four languages with modules on CSR and training for HR professionals.

The report quotes the EL secretary general, Arjan van t’Veer (pictured), who said: ”When I drove back home on the evening of 10 March 2020, I didn’t expect that I would not see the EL Brussels office nor the whole EL Team for more than a year. And what a year it was!

“Upon the executive committee’s call, we continued the work and changed all our activities to go online. The message and service to our members didn’t change, only the channel to reach them. I am proud of the EL team who continued to serve the EL members with the same dedication and warmth as prior to the pandemic. EL opened up nine home offices and it worked perfectly.

“This year full of unprecedented events taught me more than ever to appreciate and to enjoy the things you take so easily for granted; family and friends, health, freedom, the small things. You have to enjoy it to the max as it can be taken away in an instant.”