The National Association of Provincial Associations of Lottery Administrators (ANAPAL) has decided to scale back its engagement with SELAE after the operator refused to review the economic model of lottery vendors to ensure their sustainability.
Lottery vendors are facing increasing financial pressure as rising costs and static commissions continue to erode profitability. Commissions have not changed significantly since 2002.
According to an economic analysis carried out by ANAPAL, over 44% of vendors are already at risk of financial difficulties.
ANAPAL says it will not remain passive in response to what it considers an unfair situation that threatens the sustainability of its activities, and has therefore adopted a new position.
The association will suspend its participation in all working groups, forums, and voluntary initiatives promoted by SELAE that are not directly related to the network's basic functioning. It will limit its engagement with the operator to only the technical and operational matters required to ensure the day-to-day running of the administrations.
Borja Muñiz, president of ANAPAL, stated: “With this decision, SELAE is betting against its own sales network. It is an illogical and incomprehensible attitude, one that would be unfeasible in any private company.”
The lottery vendor network generates 77% of total lottery sales, and SELAE itself highlighted this network as one of its key strengths in its annual report.
At the same time, criticism is mounting over SELAE's plans to develop a centralised online sales platform. Vendors fear this could effectively create a digital monopoly, excluding them from online sales, a channel that is an increasingly important source of their income.
The current situation puts the economic viability of many lottery offices at risk, particularly in rural or smaller areas.
Local media estimates that a SELAE vendor needs to sell approximately 6,800 La Primitiva tickets each month to cover an average self-employment fee of around €400 ($467)
