At the 2008 WLA Convention and Trade Show in Rhodes, Greece, the WLA began honoring the lottery industry's most outstanding achievements in the area of responsible gaming through the WLA Responsible Gaming Awards. Since then, participating WLA member lotteries have been honored every two years at the WLA's biennial convention.

Previous WLA Responsible Gaming Awards held in 2008, 2010 and 2012, were open to WLA RGF level 4 certified members only. In order to further promote excellence and innovation in the lottery industry, the WLA redesigned the competition for the 2014 award, to also include and recognize the commitment and achievements of member lotteries certified to WLA RGF levels 2 and 3.

In addition to the Best Overall Responsible Gaming Program Award, which aims to recognize excellence in responsible gaming and reward the lottery with the best overall program at WLA RGF level 4, two new award categories were created for the 2014 competition. The Best Innovation in Responsible Gaming Award, aims to recognize members, certified to WLA RGF level4, showcasing best practices and innovation in the delivery of an element of their responsible gaming program or a specific initiative (for example the use of resources or tools). The Best Emerging Responsible Gaming Program recognise members, at level 2 or 3, whose plans clearly demonstrate commitment to a vision and plan that will realise a world class program. The Independent Assessment Panel selected a winner from level 2 and 3 certifications that have been awarded in the last 3 years.