Switzerland: Proceeds from gambling must serve the public benefit

It safeguards the future of the sustainable model in which the entire profit generated from the Swiss state lotteries, Loterie Romande and Swisslos, is used for the funding of sport, social projects, culture and the environment. The Swiss cantons are charged with the distribution of the benefits. The change in the constitution guarantees that the revenue generated from gambling is used to benefit the population that participates in gambling activities, and not private shareholders.

European lotteries, united in the umbrella organisation The European Lotteries, congratulate the people of Switzerland on their new constitutional article which is unique in Europe and in the world.

The new constitutional article further rightly addresses the danger of gambling activity, notably the risk of money laundering and gambling addiction, and accordingly enshrines in the constitution that the authorities must ensure the strict control of gambling and prevention of gambling addiction.

EL President Friedrich Stickler: “I warmly welcome the adoption of this important constitutional article. Throughout Europe, EL’s member lotteries contribute more than 20 billion EUR for society each year. While there are variations to the specific national legal framework that governs the state-owned or state-controlled lotteries, they all contain the principle that the proceeds should benefit society.” The enshrining of this principle in the Swiss constitution thus marks a further important step in the recognition of the public benefit model that lotteries throughout Europe stand for.

The text of the new constitutional article, as adopted today by popular vote, is available on the Swiss Federal Assembly’s website in German, French and English:

French: http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/ff/2011/6809.pdf
German: http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/ff/2011/7401.pdf
Italian: http://www.admin.ch/ch/i/ff/2011/6575.pdf