OPAP S.A. is a member of European and International lotteries associations with a dynamic presence and participation in B.O.D.'s and Committees, and in industry seminars and conferences.Specifically, OPAP S.A. is a member of the following Associations:
The World lotteries Association/WLA, which was founded in 1999, after the merger of the two International Lotteries Associations INTERTOTO and AILE. The Association consists of state-authorized lottery and gaming companies from more than 80 countries on 6 continents that are full members, and of numerous associate members from the supplier industry worldwide.All members have the obligation to adhere to strict standards of social responsibility and responsible gaming, as well as to dedicate the majority of their net revenues to good causes. OPAP is a regular member of INTERTOTO since 1964 and one of the founding members of WLA.
The European Lotteries/ EL, a European association of state or state-licensed companies operating games of chance, with 80 full members and 31 associate members from the supplier industry. Its mission is to promote effective communication between its members, the European and international gaming industry, as well as the institutions of the European Union. The members of European Lotteries adopted, during the General Assembly of the Association in Budapest on the 24thof May 2007, the European Responsible Gaming Standards and the Sports betting Code of Conduct, signed also by OPAP S.A., as a regular member of the Association since 1991.
The Sport Committee,was founded in January 2012, after the merger of EL and EL Sports (ELS), the former Incorporated Association of European Lotteries, which was a member service body for the regulated sports betting business, working in close cooperation with EL and WLA. EL Sports' predecessor was European Football Pools (EFP), which had the task of participating in UEFA Intertoto CUP and was a long-standing partner of UEFA, providing substantial financial contribution to the competition.Today's Sport Committee aims at maintaining a common policy for sports betting among the EL members, as well as representing of EL Members' interests towards FIFA, UEFA and other national and international football associations. OPAP S.A. has had a constant presence in EFP and ELS Boards of Directors, as one of the leading companies in the gaming sector. Today, OPAP S.A. has a permanent representation in the Sport Committee's Working Group.
The European Association for the study of Gambling /EASG, which is a non-profit association aiming at the development of dialogue between its members that operate in various sectors of gaming. The Association provides a forum for the systematic study, discussion and dissemination of knowledge about all matters relating to the study of gambling in Europe.
After 2000, OPAP S.A. has developed an even more dedicated activity in the international arena, since it has organized conferences and seminars in co-operation with international organizations or their executives. For example:
• the Meeting of the E.L. BOD (10-11 September 2001),
• the Sports betting Working Group of the European Union Lotteries (25-27 April 2002),
• the Sports Betting Seminar (11-14 May 2003),
• the Conference of the E.L.'s B.O.D. (25-26 September 2006),
• the Seminar on the European Legal Affairs of the EL (25-27 October 2006)
· WLA 2008 Convention & Trade Show (19 - 24 October, in Rhodes)
· European Lotteries University – ELU, (4 – 9 September 2011, in Chania - Crete)
WLA Convention and Trade Show, Rhodes 19-24 October 2008
As part of its activity in the sector's international environment, OPAP S.A. organized with great success the WLA Convention and Trade Show, which was held in Rhodes on 19-24 October.
The hosting of the Convention in 2008 was recognized worldwide as a great success of the Greek Organization, since the WLA Convention and Trade Show are the most important institutions in the gaming industry.
At the Convention, with the theme "Sharing the Values of Fortune", participants shared their views and were informed about developments and issues the sector faces in a worldwide scale. Particular emphasis was given in sustainable development issues, business ethics and corporate social responsibility.
