Celebrating the International Day of Democracy, seven organisations converged in Brussels for a roundtable discussion on the contribution national lotteries make to civil society and European democracy.
The main takeaway, according to European Lotteries (EL), was as follows – participants agreed that an independent civil society is one of the building blocks of a strong democracy. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that this remains supported, especially at a time of narrowing civic resources.
As it turns out, national lotteries across Europe have had a major part in contributing to the cause. Just in 2024 alone, a record €29.4bn was syphoned back into the civic fabric, supporting all sorts of sport, culture, heritage and social initiatives.
This nurturing role was also recognised back in the 1980s by the historic Adonnino Committee, which suggested the creation of a Europe-wide lottery for the purpose of lifting up arts and culture across the Old Continent.
This idea lives through Europe’s national lotteries today, evidenced by ex-Belgium PM Count Herman Van Rompuy’s speech at the EL Congress in 2025, who said: “In times of crisis, the role of lotteries in supporting our society deserves, more than ever, special recognition in the Union.”
This still seems to be the general perception following the latest roundtable discussion, with participants highlighting the growing potential of lotteries to bridge the gap between citizens and European institutions.
Piet Van Baeveghem, EL Secretary General, added: “Democracy depends on people feeling connected to and able to participate in their communities. Across Europe, national lotteries help make that possible by supporting the organisations and initiatives that bring people together.
“At a time of profound social, economic and technological change, this contribution to the public good and social cohesion should be recognised and preserved. Strong democracies require strong communities. National lotteries help support the social fabric that makes those communities possible.”