From 14 to 17 September 2025, the 12th European Lotteries (EL) Congress took place in Bern, Switzerland. Hosted by EL and Swiss lotteries, Swisslos and Loterie Romande, with the support of EL partners (Brightstar Lottery, Scientific Games, Aristocrat Interactive), this Congress was one of the most significant events of the year in the European lottery industry, gathering many CEOs and executives from across Europe.
With the theme “Building a Better World”, the Congress highlighted the central role of lotteries in delivering societal impact. Over four days, industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers discussed responsible innovation, regulatory frameworks, and how lotteries continue to evolve to remain trusted and relevant for communities.
The event also featured:
- Prestigious speakers, including Count Herman Van Rompuy, President Emeritus of the European Council and Simonetta Sommaruga, Former President of the Swiss Confederation.
- A Trade Show showcasing innovations shaping the sector.
- The 2025 EL Advertising Awards, which rewarded the most creative advertising campaigns in the lottery industry.
The Congress concluded with the General Assembly of European Lotteries, during which members re-elected Romana Girandon as President and appointed a new Executive Committee for the period 2025-2027.
Left to right: Alessandro Paciucci (Brightstar Lottery, Italy), Peter Strobel (Saartoto, Germany), Rita Prates (Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, Portugal) , Jesús Huerta Almendro (Sociedad Estatal Loterías y Apuestas del Estado – SELAE, Spain), Stéphane Pallez (FDJ, France, 1st Vice President), Romana Girandon (President), Olli Sarekoski (Veikkaus Oy, Finland, 2nd Vice President), Beata Stelmach (Totalizator Sportowy, Poland), Jean-Luc Moner Banet (Loterie Romande, Swizterland), Jannie Haek (Loterie Nationale Loterij, Belgium) & Jan Karas (OPAP, Greece).
FDJ UNITED played a central role in Bern with a delegation of nearly twenty representatives, including CEO Stéphane Pallez and several FDJ Executive Committee members.
- Panel on Positive Social Impact: Stéphane Pallez joined other European lottery leaders (from Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal) in a high-level panel that underlined the positive social impact as a cornerstone of the lottery model.
- EL Executive Committee Elections: Stéphane Pallez was successfully re-elected, by obtaining all the votes. She is again appointed first vice-president of the EL Executive Committee. For more information, click here.
- The United Lotteries for Integrity in Sports (ULIS) also held its general meeting during the congress, with elections to renew its Executive Committee. Jean-Luc Moner-Banet (Loterie Romande, Switzerland) has been appointed President. Antoine Beghin, FDJ UNITED Director of Sponsorship & Sports Integrity, will represent FDJ within this governance body. For more information, click here.
- Our lottery has obtained the EL Responsible Gaming Certification for the 6th time, achieving a 100% score in the Certification framework, a commitment that is staying our priority.
- EL Advertising Awards 2025: FDJ UNITED competed with its campaign Origines 2 in the “Best Corporate Commercial” category. The top prize was awarded to the Spanish lottery SELAE for its 2024 campaign, ‘’Sharing it is extraordinary’’. For more information, click here.
With its active participation, FDJ UNITED confirmed its leadership and ambition to build a sustainable, responsible, and socially impactful lottery model across Europe, aligned with EL’s mission and strategic directions.
EL is the umbrella organization for national lotteries operating games of chance (including sports betting) across 39 European countries, with a total of 70 members. Its members provide services for the public benefit, guided by core values: forward-thinking sustainability, and integrity.
In 2023, EL members raised over €22 billion for society, supporting projects in sport, cultural heritage, health care, education, science, assistive disabilities, etc.
