a little about the NASPL and how they regulate the lottery
Most people think that the lottery is a simple draw put on by a lottery operator in a quick and sometimes haphazard way to make money, and give a pittance back to the players. They also believe that the lottery is run any way the operator wants to, whether located in the United States or Canada, and every lottery is run differently by different operators. They feel there is no oversite and even the regulators favour the lottery operator. But in reality, the lottery industry in North America is highly regulated and has an association that ensures all lottery operators keep to core values that are standardized throughout the industry.
Regulator and Representative
Even though you may have played the lottery for decades, you probably have never heard of the NASPL, or the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries. Founded in 1971, it represents all those states and provinces in the United States and Canada who run lotteries and the companies that provide products and services for them to do so. It represents focused service and cohesive cooperation in aligning all of its members to the same page. It’s continued mandate is as follows: “to assemble and disseminate information and benefits of state and provincial lottery organizations through education and communications and where appropriate publicly advocate the positions of the Association on matters of general policy.”
Within that mandate, the NASPL includes the following functions:
- It provides a central source for information that the lottery industry can share both within and outside the industry, expertise, resources, and advice.
- To help facilitate meaningful communications among lottery organizations about the creation, development, and implementation of industry standards and matters of mutual interest, particularly those that are related to the integrity, security, and efficiency of state and provincial lottery jurisdictions.
- The education and training of lottery staff.
- To be a hub for both professional and industry research and development initiations and projects.
- Promoting the recognition and the importance of maintaining excellent public confidence in the lottery industry, and supporting state and provincial sponsored lottery organizations, as a means of generating revenue to meet public needs and mandates.
- Establish a public and united voice on common causes and issues in the lottery industry.
Essentially the association provides a supporting role in providing information and guidance to those in the lottery industry so there is a standard and uniform practice of providing lottery games to the public in both the United States and Canada. Lotteries in the U.S.contribute to and support the U.S. economy and lotteries in Canada support the Canadian economy. Not only is the economy supported but so too are charities and other designated benefactors. NASPL is also dedicated to the advocacy of Responsible Gambling initiatives and the prevention and treatment of problem gambling.
An organisation that is beneficial to all
NASPL members include most lottery regulators and operators in North America, such as from the OLG (Ontario Lottery and Gaming) to the Texas Lottery. There are also associate members that are from lottery vendors and suppliers who support the industry through products and services necessary to run a lottery. Associate Membership provides these companies a way to have a voice in the industry to improve all aspects of lottery operations.
Having such an association in North America is not only beneficial to lottery operators, regulators, and suppliers, but is also beneficial to the public in ensuring uniform gaming across the two countries, factual information to dispel lottery myths, and addressing the issue of problem gambling. With such an association in place, you can rest assured that whether you are playing the lottery in Nome, Alaska; Iqaluit, Nunavut; Toronto, Ontario; New York City; or Los Angeles, California, the uniform practice of integrity, honesty, and operation is similar everywhere.