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The Lottery of the Future: How Digital Technology Will Transform Experience and Impact

Published

2 years ago

April 10, 2024

the-lottery-of-the-future:-how-digital-technology-will-transform-experience-and-impact

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Growing demands for businesses to demonstrate that they are purposeful, accountable and worthy of trust will combine with new digital technologies to transform the experience and impact of lotteries in the coming decade, according to a new report published by Allwyn, the leading multi-national lottery operator. Global lottery sales are expected to grow to more than half a trillion US Dollars by 2035, and by more than 40% compared with 2025, according to H2 Gambling Capital.

Working with The Future Laboratory, a strategic foresight consultancy, Allwyn has produced the industry’s first in-depth analysis of the future lottery experience. In The Future of Lottery: A Game for Change, experts say that lotteries are well positioned to meet the expectations of the consumers of 2035.

The emphasis on social responsibility, transparency and meaning from younger adults will see lottery brands double down on their commitment to supporting socially driven causes and responsible gaming, the report says.

“It’s impossible to ignore the power of purpose when considering how Gen Z or young millennials think about where and how they will spend their money in the future,” says Martin Raymond, co-founder of The Future Laboratory.

As digital natives, these groups will also look to brands to embrace new technological possibilities, such as augmented reality and new forms of community engagement and social play.

The report outlines a number of ways in which lotteries could innovate to improve the player experience. For example:

Making the social impact of lotteries more visible: The use of smartphone apps, QR codes and interactive terminals can tell engaging stories about where lottery returns or taxes are directed – such as supporting investments in sports facilities, arts and cultural institutions or other types of community funding. The report says this heightened transparency could resonate with younger adult consumers’ desire for progress and activism.
Enhancing the social dimension of game play: Younger adults who play the lottery want to do so within their social circle, sharing their experiences with others. Technology could enable new multi-player formats to promote community and a sense of camaraderie both in the play itself but also in crowdsourcing funds for specific themes or issues.
Involving players in how lottery funds are spent: Lottery players could collaborate alongside traditional distributors of funds – even between different countries – to help decide the causes, projects or charities that are most deserving of their funds, perhaps choosing between a range of options presented digitally. Multi-national lottery operators have the opportunity to build links and communities between players and causes that transcend traditional geographic boundaries. “As lotteries become more international, they have the potential to become vehicles for achieving broader goals, such as addressing climate change or reducing social inequalities, by focusing on a coordinating a critical mass of inter-related micro solutions,” says the report.
Using virtual worlds and augmented reality (AR): Lotteries could use virtual worlds to show players how their money is making positive contributions to make the social impact more vivid. AR could allow customers to use their smartphones to scan physical objects to reveal hidden digital lottery tickets or participate in location-based games to win prizes.

Robert Chvátal, CEO of Allwyn Group, said: “Allwyn’s success in running lotteries is because we keep innovating to meet the needs and expectations of both current and new customers. While not every prediction in The Future of Lottery report will come to pass, every word of it will act as a catalyst for us at Allwyn to keep developing lotteries to meet the demands of players in the future, thereby returning more money to governments and good causes.”

Pavel Turek, Allwyn’s Chief Global Brand, Corporate Communication and CSR Officer, said: “As regulated businesses, trust is the cornerstone of the lottery industry’s relationship with the public. As younger generations of consumers expect more from businesses, lotteries have the potential to double down on being a positive force for change in their communities over the next decade.”

Martin Raymond, co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Future Laboratory, said: “Far from a game of chance and luck, the lottery of the future has the opportunity to be a positive vehicle of change for individuals, for communities and for societies at large. Now, thanks to next-generation tech, the industry has more channels that ever to address emerging audiences – bringing the value-focused adult Gen Zs along for the journey with immersive game experiences, responsible strategies and play that has purpose at its core.”

Experts who contributed to the report include Anthony Steed, head of virtual new environments and computer graphics at University College London, Katie Hillier, chief digital anthropologist at Liiv Group and Rosanna Iacono, CEO of The Growth Activists.

The post The Lottery of the Future: How Digital Technology Will Transform Experience and Impact appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Akshat Rathee

Indian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone

Published

9 minutes ago

January 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

indian-esports-2026:-strategic-growth-and-the-asian-games-milestone

The Indian esports landscape is transitioning from a period of rapid “spectacle” growth to a phase defined by lasting institutional structure. Following the implementation of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), 2026 is set to be the year where regulatory clarity, international competition, and domestic grassroots development converge.

The Impact of PROGA: Policy into Practice

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), signed into law in August 2025, has officially moved from policy to practice. Its primary contribution to 2026 is the explicit separation of esports from money-based gaming.

Legitimacy: By categorizing esports as a legitimate competitive pursuit, PROGA has unlocked state-level adoption and cleared the way for schools and colleges to integrate gaming into their sports frameworks.
Commercial Confidence: With a clear regulatory environment, brands in sectors like FMCG, automotive, and BFSI are now viewing esports as a stable, long-term youth engagement platform rather than a risky experiment.
Athlete Pathways: PROGA facilitates the creation of standardized national registries for athletes, ensuring that competitive integrity is maintained across grassroots and professional tiers.

The Asian Games 2026: A Global Stage

The Asian Games 2026 in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, serves as the most critical milestone for the ecosystem this year.

Medal Status: Esports will feature as a full medal event with 11 confirmed titles, including League of Legends, PUBG Mobile (Asian Games Version), and Pokémon UNITE.
Indian Prospects: India’s best historical result (quarter-finals in League of Legends at Hangzhou) has set a high bar. For 2026, the focus has shifted toward high-performance training camps and long-term athlete mentorship to secure a podium finish.
Multi-Sport Integration: Participation alongside traditional athletes reinforces the narrative that esports is a viable professional career, further encouraging government investment through schemes like Khelo India.

Market Evolution and Key Trends

The Indian gaming market is projected to reach approximately $5.02 billion in 2026, driven by a massive player base exceeding 500 million gamers.

Trend	Impact in 2026
Mobile Dominance	Over 95% of the market remains mobile-first, fueled by 5G expansion and affordable hardware.
Beyond BGMI	2026 is seeing a push to diversify the market into fighting games, sports simulations, and PC titles to avoid “one-title dependency.”
Monetization Shift	Revenue is shifting from pure advertising toward battle passes, subscription models, and in-game progression.
Tier II & III Growth	Most new user acquisition is coming from smaller cities, demanding more vernacular and localized content.

The post Indian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Bison Strike

ENJOY Boosts Global Distribution with Strategic EveryMatrix Deal

Published

9 minutes ago

January 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

enjoy-boosts-global-distribution-with-strategic-everymatrix-deal

ENJOY, the fast-rising iGaming content developer, has secured a significant distribution agreement with EveryMatrix. The deal will see ENJOY’s full suite of video slots and next-generation live casino game shows integrated into the SlotMatrix aggregation platform, making them available to an expansive network of tier-one global operators.

This partnership marks a critical milestone for ENJOY as it enters its primary phase of commercial expansion. By joining the SlotMatrix ecosystem—one of the industry’s largest content hubs—ENJOY gains immediate access to regulated markets worldwide and a streamlined path to brand visibility.

Bison Strike and Innovation in the Spotlight

The integration includes ENJOY’s most recent flagship launch, Bison Strike, alongside a curated library of high-performing titles. ENJOY is carving out a reputation for “indie-style” creative flair combined with technical reliability, focusing on two core verticals:

Video Slots: High-volatility titles with immersive storytelling and meticulously crafted art.
Live Game Shows: 24/7 interactive experiences streamed from a purpose-built studio, designed to drive player retention through next-gen engagement mechanics.

Leadership Insights on Global Scalability

The agreement follows a string of successful partnerships for ENJOY, which has already established links with platforms like SoftGamings and Gamingtec under the leadership of its new CCO.

“This partnership with EveryMatrix gives us a launchpad that, as a newcomer, we are privileged to access,” said Christos Zoulianitis, Chief Commercial Officer at ENJOY. “EveryMatrix’s reputation as a trusted aggregator and its global distribution power allow us to accelerate our growth significantly. We’re bringing fresh ideas to both the slots and live casino verticals, and EveryMatrix gives us the reach to put that innovation in front of the right operators immediately.”

Bjorn Sjoberg, CCO at SlotMatrix, added: “ENJOY has shown real ambition and creative flair with its early releases. Our mission is to connect high-quality, forward-thinking studios with operators who value fresh content, and ENJOY fits that brief perfectly.”

The post ENJOY Boosts Global Distribution with Strategic EveryMatrix Deal appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Blask Index

Saudi Arabia, Greece, and the Philippines Lead iGaming’s Rising Markets in 2025

Published

9 minutes ago

January 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

saudi-arabia,-greece,-and-the-philippines-lead-igaming’s-rising-markets-in-2025

Saudi Arabia, Greece, and the Philippines have emerged as the most significant rising markets of 2025, according to a comprehensive year-end analysis from the market intelligence ecosystem Blask.

The findings are based on the proprietary Blask Index, a real-time tracking tool that monitors player attention and search volumes across 107 countries. While established markets like the United Kingdom maintained the top spots, these three jurisdictions saw the most aggressive climbs in global rankings.

2025 Market Movers: The Biggest Climbers

The global iGaming landscape experienced a shift in 2025 as emerging interest in the Middle East and regulatory overhauls in Asia-Pacific redirected player attention.

Market	Index Rank Change	2025 Position	Key Growth Driver
Saudi Arabia	+9 Places	20th	High youth demographics & digital adoption
Philippines	+4 Places	12th	New PAGCOR B2B licensing framework
Greece	+4 Places	17th	Robust online growth from operators like OPAP

Saudi Arabia: The Surprise Performer

Saudi Arabia was the year’s most improved market, breaking into the Global Top 20 for the first time. Despite strict local prohibitions, the market saw a sharp uptick in interest driven by a young, mobile-first population (over 70% under age 35) and a massive shift toward digital entertainment under the Vision 2030 initiative. The growth reflects an “underground” surge in demand typically seen in restricted but hyper-connected markets.

Philippines: Regulatory Modernization

The Philippines climbed to 12th place, fueled by the PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) decision to formalize the iGaming supply chain. The introduction of the B2B Accreditation Framework in October 2025 forced game developers, aggregators, and payment providers to undergo formal probity checks, bringing the region in line with mature jurisdictions like the UK and Ontario.

Greece: Digital Transition

Greece’s ascent to 17th place was largely attributed to the performance of its largest operator, OPAP. The company reported double-digit growth in its iGaming and sports betting divisions throughout 2025, with online GGR surging nearly 20% in the first half of the year. This success underscores the Greek market’s successful transition from a retail-heavy model to a digital-first ecosystem.

“The global iGaming landscape is shifting faster than ever,” said Max Tesla, CEO and co-founder of Blask. “Operators that can spot emerging trends early, and understand what is actually driving interest on the ground, are far better positioned to capture new growth opportunities as they appear.”

The post Saudi Arabia, Greece, and the Philippines Lead iGaming’s Rising Markets in 2025 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.