(image: Korea Bizwire)
SEJONG, Oct. 13 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea will host its first Asia Pacific Lottery Association (APLA) meeting next week, which could allow it to make inroads into the gradually expanding global numbers game market, the government said Tuesday.
The upcoming annual conference will be attended by 250 representatives from 25 countries and include both government agencies and private organizations, the finance ministry said. The five-day gathering will kick off in Seoul on Monday.
“This year’s conference, which is the eighth of its kind, will also be the largest to date with representatives from the World Lottery Association to be present,” it said.
Participants will engage in talks aimed at expanding lottery operations around the world and improving public perception of the sector that is sometimes linked to gambling.
“The aim is to promote the fact that lottery is a healthy recreational activity that generates public funds which can be used in various social welfare projects,” the ministry said. In South Korea, proceeds from the sale of lottery tickets are used exclusively to support low income earners and the socially disadvantaged.
The ministry then said hosting APLA will give the country a chance to export its locally developed lottery system.
Initially, the country used a system developed by Greece’s Intralot, but spent 4.6 billion won (US$4 million) from 2010 through 2013 to develop its own system. The new system ended restrictions on system access and unnecessary complications related to payment.
“By highlighting the technology built into the local lottery system that makes use of the country’s top notch information technology know-how, South Korea wants to export its system to countries wanting to enter the numbers game industry,” the ministry said.’
(Yonhap)
