Global Lotteries Bolster Player Protection and Oversight
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Key Takeaways
- UAE and Illinois operators achieve or maintain top-tier World Lottery Association responsible gaming certifications, reinforcing international standards for player safeguards.
- Brazil’s gambling regulator publishes its 2026/27 agenda, placing licensing reform and federal lottery oversight at the forefront.
- Industry-wide alignment on responsible gaming frameworks signals stronger consistency across North America and globally.
UAE Lottery Secures WLA Responsible Gaming Level 2 Certification
The Game LLC, operator of the UAE’s first and only federally licensed national lottery, has attained Level 2 certification under the World Lottery Association’s Responsible Gaming Framework. The certification, supported by specialist consultancy DigitalRG, confirms the operator has completed a structured self-assessment, gap analysis, and implementation plan covering the ten core WLA principles, including research, staff training, retailer engagement, game design, digital channels, player education, and treatment referral.
Achieved shortly after the lottery’s launch in 2024, the milestone underscores a deliberate focus on international best practices from the outset. With more than 800,000 registered players and over AED 165 million in prizes awarded, the certification provides independent validation of governance and accountability mechanisms amid rapid growth. Regulated by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) and now a WLA member, The Game positions the UAE lottery as a model for responsible expansion in the Middle East.
Source: Yogonet International (12 February 2026) and operator statement.
Brazil’s SPA Publishes 2026/27 Regulatory Agenda with Focus on Licensing and Caixa
Brazil’s Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) has released its biennial regulatory agenda in Normative Ordinance No. 408, published on 12 February 2026. The plan prioritises a comprehensive review of licensing procedures, enhanced enforcement against illegal operators, and the development of a dedicated regulatory framework for Caixa Econômica Federal’s lottery monopoly.
Key actions scheduled for 2026 include Q1 reviews of approval/rejection criteria, payment-blocking mechanisms (linked to Normative Ordinance No 566), and affiliate advertising rules; Q2 regulation of lottery sales via physical terminals; and Q3 improvements to responsible gaming policies and the introduction of a bettor self-monitoring tool. Caixa-specific lottery regulations are scheduled for further review in 2027. Acting SPA chief Daniele Correa Cardoso signed the ordinance, signalling a shift toward stricter supervision and a commitment to deliver legal certainty and sustainable investment conditions.
The agenda reflects growing regulatory maturity in Latin America’s largest gambling market and directly addresses the federal lottery operator’s role amid ongoing debates over sports-betting integration.
Source: Normative Ordinance No 408, Official Diary of the Union (12 February 2026); i Gaming Business (13 February 2026).
Illinois Lottery Maintains WLA Level 4 Responsible Gaming Certification
The Illinois Lottery has been re-certified at the highest Level 4 standard under the World Lottery Association Responsible Gaming Framework. The independent assessment, conducted by WLA-accredited evaluators, examined policies, procedures, and programs across all ten framework principles and confirmed sustained excellence in player protection.
Illinois first achieved Level 4 in 2022 and has retained the designation through continuous improvement. Operating partner Allwyn North America supported the certification process. The result places the Illinois Lottery among a select group of eight U.S. lotteries currently meeting the global standard.
The re-certification reinforces North American leadership in responsible gaming at a time when the NASPL–WLA alignment of frameworks (announced earlier in February) is strengthening cross-border consistency.
Source: Illinois Lottery / Globe Newswire (5 February 2026) and La Fleur’s Lottery World coverage (11 February 2026).
These developments illustrate a clear industry trajectory: mature markets are deepening player-protection commitments, while emerging and regulated jurisdictions are embedding rigorous oversight into licensing and operations. From the Middle East to North and Latin America, lottery authorities and operators are aligning on globally recognised standards that balance growth, integrity, and public trust.
