Swisslos

History

Swisslos traces its roots to 1937 when the Interkantonale Landeslotterie was established as a cooperative. The current entity was formed on 1 January 2003 through the merger of the Interkantonale Landeslotterie, the Sport-Toto Association, and the Berner Lotteriegenossenschaft SEVA. This consolidation created a single lottery operator for the German- and Italian-speaking regions of Switzerland.

Business Model and Regulation

Swisslos operates as a non-profit distributing cooperative, with its shareholders being the cantonal governments. All net gaming revenue is distributed to the cantons, which then allocate funds to public-benefit projects in sports, culture, social welfare, environmental protection, and other charitable causes. Since its founding, Swisslos has contributed over CHF 7 billion to such projects. The company is strictly regulated under the Federal Act on Gambling (approved by Swiss voters in 2018) and the Intercantonal Agreement on Lotteries. It holds full certification from the World Lottery Association for data integrity.

Products and Brands

Swisslos offers a diverse product range to appeal to a broad audience. Swiss Lotto is the flagship national draw game held twice weekly, with an optional Joker add-on. EuroMillions is a transnational lottery drawn on Tuesdays and Fridays. Sporttip provides sports betting on a wide variety of events. Jass.ch (launched 2015) is the online paid version of the traditional Swiss card game Jass. Instant games include Clix (scratch cards) and Fortuna (replacing Happy Day in 2022). Other products include Zahlenlotto (number lottery), Bingo, goooal (football-themed betting), big21 (a card game variant), and PMU (horse-race betting). Historical products such as Benissimo and Supertreffer are no longer actively offered.

Technology and Infrastructure

Swisslos has invested heavily in modernizing its IT infrastructure. In 2015 it migrated its core data centers to Nutanix’s hyperconverged platform, enabling it to run over 200 Linux virtual machines and achieve sub-20-second transaction times even during peak jackpot periods. The company also automated IP address management using BlueCat’s API, integrating with its ERP system to eliminate manual setup for thousands of gaming terminals and point-of-sale locations. A dedicated logistics centre opened in Rheinfelden in 2020 manages physical ticket distribution.

Market Position and Competition

Swisslos is one of only two licensed lottery operators in Switzerland, covering the German- and Italian-speaking cantons. The French-speaking region is served by Loterie Romande. Despite its dominant position within its licensed territory, Swisslos faces competition from international online gaming operators. However, strong brand trust, its regulatory moat, and its philanthropic mission have kept it stable and profitable. The company operates around 3,500 point-of-sale locations and about 4,000 gaming terminals, with a robust online platform receiving over 11 million page views per month.