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Lottery Industry Unites in Oslo to Combat Rising Cyber Threats and Supply Chain Risks

From Illinois Lottery breaches to AI-powered defenses, the industry's top minds shared urgent strategies. Can lotteries outpace hackers in an era of relentless cyber warfare?

The image shows an open book with a diagram illustrating the flow of supplies in the American...
The image shows an open book with a diagram illustrating the flow of supplies in the American Expeditionary Forces. The book is placed on a flat surface and contains text and diagrams that illustrate the various components of the supply chain.

Lottery Industry Unites in Oslo to Combat Rising Cyber Threats and Supply Chain Risks

The 2025 Security & Operational Risk Seminar took place in Oslo from October 21 to 23, bringing together lottery operators, suppliers, and regulators. Organised by European Lotteries and the World Lottery Association (WLA), the event focused on supply chain trust, resilience, and oversight in an era of rising digital threats. Hosted by Norsk Tipping, the seminar opened with Sofie Nystrøm, CEO of Fortified Technologies, highlighting the increasing complexity of cyberattacks. Since 2020, lottery companies have faced more advanced threats, from ransomware to supply chain breaches. High-profile incidents, such as the 2021 Illinois Lottery data breach and the 2023 Mega Millions system flaw, have pushed operators to adopt stricter measures like zero-trust security and multi-factor authentication.

Andrew Jackson of Scientific Games stressed the need for transparency in lottery security practices. Meanwhile, Rebecca McCarthy from Allwyn UK discussed how the transition from Camelot improved operational resilience across different functions. Fabien Maréchal of FDJ United presented strategies for managing third-party risks, while representatives from Szerencsejáték Zrt explained how supplier oversight is embedded in daily operations. Pablo Berloso from SELAE shared Spain's experience in maintaining lottery operations during a nationwide power outage. Gennaro Borrelli of Brightstar Lottery explored the emerging challenge of 'AI versus AI' in security, where attackers and defenders increasingly rely on artificial intelligence.

The seminar concluded with a clearer focus on strengthening supply chain security and adapting to evolving cyber threats. Operators and regulators left with actionable frameworks for improving oversight, resilience, and transparency in lottery systems. The discussions underscored the need for continuous vigilance in an industry facing increasingly sophisticated digital risks.

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