EL members elect new Executive Committee for 2023-2025 period, appoint Romana Girandon as President

European Lotteries has elected a new Executive Committee for the period 2023-2025 and appointed Romana Girandon, CEO of Loterija Slovenije, as the first female EL President. Members of the European umbrella organization of national lotteries made the call during the EL General Assembly held on June 7 in Šibenik, Croatia.

"I am delighted to be elected EL President at this year's General Assembly. This is a real honor, and I would like to thank the Members for trusting me to lead EL in the next mandate," said Romana Girandon, EL President.

''Over the coming years, I look forward to fulfilling my role together with a strong and experienced Executive Committee, to prove that we, The European Lotteries, are here to benefit society. Together we can make a difference and provide a new momentum for a sustainable and responsible future."

In accepting her new role, Girandon thanked outgoing President Hansjörg Höltkemeier for his dedication and commitment to the organization over the past eight years. Höltkemeier has now been named EL Honorary President.

The General Assembly election took place on the occasion of the 11th EL Congress & Trade Show in Šibenik, Croatia, from June 4-7. Under the overarching theme "Looking Forward – Lotteries of the Future", the organization called the summit "an opportunity to reconnect and learn from inspiring keynote speakers as part of a forward-looking program."

The newly elected members of the EL Executive Committee are Olgierd Ciéslik, Totalizator Sportowy; Romana Girandon, Loterija Slovenije & EL President; Jannie Haek, Loterie Nationale Loterij; Hansjörg Höltkemeier, Deutsche Klassenlotterie Berlin & EL Honorary President; Jesús Almendro Huerta, Sociedad Estatal de Loterías y Apuestas del Estado; Jan Karas, OPAP; Jean-Luc Moner-Banet, Loterie Romande; Niels Onkenhout, Nederlandse Loterij; Stéphane Pallez, La Française des Jeux & EL 1st Vice President; Rosangela Robbiani, Sisal; and Olli Sarekoski, Veikkaus Oy & EL 2nd Vice President.

Also during the General Assembly, EL welcomed Loterie Korunka (Czech Republic) and Malta National Lottery as new Regular Members, and OpenBet and Fennica Gaming as new Associate Members. Furthermore, EL Members adopted updates to the 2019 EL Antwerp Resolution on advertisement for games of chance, now known as the Antwerp-Šibenik Resolution 2023.

The European Lotteries is the European umbrella organization of national lotteries operating games of chance in 39 European countries with a total of 70 members, including all EU Member States. It is described as "the largest and most representative lottery and gambling sector organization in Europe" and its members only operate in those jurisdictions in which they are licensed and where they comply with the legal requirements.

In 2021, EL members secured €20 billion ($21.4 billion) for society and directly supported public projects related to sport, cultural heritage, art, individuals with disabilities and disadvantages, education, science and many other areas.