EGBA Welcomes GREF Support for New European Standard

Can a unified European standard help prevent problem gambling more effectively? The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) believes so. The Gambling Regulators European Forum (GREF) has officially backed EGBA’s initiative to create a common standard for markers of harm in online gambling. Developed within the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), these behavioral indicators will enhance player protection, support early detection, and promote safer gambling practices across Europe. With the final version expected by 2025, will this new standard become a game-changer for online gambling regulation?

EGBA and GREF Advance European Standard on Gambling Harm Markers

Key Points:

1. GREF Endorses EGBA’s Initiative for a European Standard on Harm Markers

   • The standard will establish key behavioral indicators to detect problem gambling early.
   • Development within CEN began in 2023, involving regulators, operators, and harm prevention experts.

2. Voluntary Implementation but Industry-Wide Impact Expected

   • While not legally binding, the EGBA hopes operators will adopt the framework to strengthen responsible gambling policies.
   • The initiative aims to create a consistent approach across European markets.

3. Stronger Collaboration for Safer Gambling in Europe

   • EGBA urges all stakeholders to support finalizing the standard in the coming months.
   • GREF’s endorsement reinforces the importance of cross-border cooperation in tackling gambling harm.

EGBA Pushes for Standardized Gambling Harm Markers Across Europe

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has gained significant backing for its initiative to create a European standard on gambling harm markers. The Gambling Regulators European Forum (GREF) has formally endorsed the project, which aims to improve player protection and prevent problem gambling through early behavioral detection.

This initiative, originally proposed by EGBA in 2022, is being developed within the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN). The final framework, expected to be published by the end of 2025, will define clear behavioral indicators that operators can use to identify and address compulsive gambling behaviors more effectively and consistently.

What the New European Standard Will Address

The proposed standard will provide a set of common behavioral markers that help identify early signs of problem gambling. These markers will be developed in collaboration with experts from academia, regulatory bodies, and the gambling industry.

Key focus areas include:

• Monitoring spending patterns to identify excessive gambling habits.
• Tracking session durations to detect prolonged and unhealthy gaming behavior.
• Recognizing abrupt deposit increases that may signal gambling-related financial distress.

By implementing these markers, operators can intervene earlier, offering support to at-risk players before significant harm occurs.

Industry Adoption and Impact

Although the European standard will not be legally binding, EGBA believes it will set a new benchmark for responsible gambling policies across the industry. By creating a uniform system for identifying gambling harm, regulators hope to:

• Strengthen consumer protection through proactive intervention strategies.
• Encourage operators to adopt best practices, even in jurisdictions without strict regulations.
• Improve regulatory consistency across Europe, making compliance easier for multi-jurisdictional operators.

EGBA Secretary General Maarten Haijer emphasized the significance of GREF’s support:

“The development of a European standard on markers of harm will be a crucial step forward for safer gambling in Europe. It will help establish a more common understanding of problem gambling behaviors and raise the bar on player protection across the industry.”

Growing Support for Responsible Gambling Measures

The EGBA’s push for better gambling harm detection aligns with broader European efforts to improve responsible gaming policies.

Recent developments include:

• Sweden strengthening its affordability checks for online gambling.
• Germany enforcing stricter deposit limits to combat problem gambling.
• The Netherlands implementing new advertising restrictions to minimize gambling-related risks.

Additionally, some of Europe’s largest operators, including LeoVegas, are increasing their focus on responsible gaming initiatives. Since joining EGBA in December 2024, LeoVegas has committed to aligning its policies with EGBA’s responsible gambling efforts.

The Next Steps: Finalizing and Implementing the Standard

With GREF’s endorsement secured, the next steps for the European standard on gambling harm markers include:

1. Finalizing the list of behavioral indicators with input from regulators, operators, and researchers.
2. Publishing the completed standard by late 2025, making it available for voluntary adoption.
3. Encouraging operators to integrate the markers into their responsible gambling frameworks.

The EGBA continues to urge all stakeholders to support this initiative, emphasizing that collaborative efforts are crucial for raising player protection standards across Europe.

A Unified Approach to Gambling Harm Prevention

The GREF’s support for EGBA’s initiative represents a significant step toward greater consistency in responsible gambling measures across Europe. By establishing clear and standardized harm markers, the initiative aims to help operators detect problem gambling earlier and intervene effectively.

With the final standard set for publication in 2025, the industry is moving closer to a more responsible and player-centric gambling environment. While the framework remains voluntary, it has the potential to influence national regulations, strengthen industry-wide best practices, and enhance player safety across multiple jurisdictions.

As gambling markets continue to evolve, the question now is whether more regulators will push for mandatory adoption—and if so, how this will shape the future of Europe’s online gaming landscape.