EGBA Hails EU’s First Standard for Gambling Harm Detection

Player protection in Europe just reached a new level—an official standard for identifying gambling harm is now approved.

The European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) has voted overwhelmingly in favor of the first-ever European standard on markers of harm. Backed strongly by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), this landmark achievement could reshape responsible gambling practices across the continent.

With this standard, regulators and operators will share a common framework to spot risky gambling behavior early and respond effectively. It’s not just about compliance—it’s about creating safer gambling environments for millions of players.

Let’s explore why this standard matters, how it was developed, and what it could mean for the future of gambling in Europe.

Key Points:

1. The European Committee for Standardisation approved the first-ever EU standard for gambling harm detection.
2. EGBA led the initiative, uniting regulators, operators, academics, and harm prevention experts across Europe.
3. The standard will be finalised by 2026 and made available for voluntary adoption by regulators and operators.

A Milestone for Player Protection: Europe Approves First Standard to Identify Gambling Harm

For years, the gambling industry has debated how to balance innovation, entertainment, and player protection. Now, with the approval of Europe’s first standard for identifying gambling harm, we may finally have a breakthrough that sets a common baseline across jurisdictions.

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) championed this initiative from the start, working with the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and multiple stakeholders. According to EGBA’s Secretary General, Maarten Haijer, the outcome reflects the power of collaboration. He noted that the sector now has “a commonly agreed standard that will benefit players across Europe.”

Why This Matters

Until now, definitions of gambling harm markers varied widely between countries and operators. What one regulator considered a red flag, another might overlook. This inconsistency weakened efforts to protect players, especially in an industry that crosses borders digitally.

With this standard, operators will be able to align practices and regulators will gain greater oversight clarity. For players, it translates to earlier interventions, better protection, and potentially fewer cases of addiction-related harm.

A Collaborative Process Years in the Making

This wasn’t a quick initiative. The project took years of work, with contributions from academics, regulators, operators, and harm prevention experts. Special credit goes to Dr. Maris Catania, the official project leader, and to AFNOR, the French body that served as project secretariat.

According to Vasiliki Panousi, EGBA’s Senior Manager for EU Affairs, seeing the overwhelming support was “incredibly rewarding.” She emphasized that the standard will serve as an essential building block for effective harm prevention.

What Comes Next

The vote closed on 25 September, but the journey isn’t over. The standard now enters CEN’s formal finalisation process, which involves language translations and procedural checks. It’s expected to be complete by early 2026.

Once published, the standard will be available for voluntary adoption. This is key—regulators and operators are not obliged to enforce it, but it will almost certainly become the benchmark for responsible gambling in Europe. Those who adopt it early will likely gain credibility with regulators and players alike.

Industry Implications

In my opinion, this is not just a win for regulators—it’s a chance for operators to demonstrate leadership. Adopting the standard early could position companies as trustworthy partners in consumer protection.

It also signals a trend: the EU is slowly but surely moving toward greater harmonisation in gambling regulation, especially when it comes to player safety. While full regulatory alignment remains unlikely in the near future, standards like this set the foundation for cross-border consistency.

The approval of Europe’s first gambling harm detection standard marks a historic step for player protection. It’s a rare moment where regulators, operators, and experts agreed on a shared framework—proof that collaboration is possible in such a complex industry.

As the standard is finalised and rolled out by 2026, the real question will be adoption. Will regulators mandate it? Will operators embrace it voluntarily?

What’s clear is that this milestone offers Europe a powerful tool to better protect players, strengthen public trust, and prove that gambling can be both safe and sustainable.

For me, this is more than just regulation—it’s a defining moment in responsible gambling’s evolution.

Tags:
#ResponsibleGaming #EGBA #PlayerProtection #EuropeanStandard #GamblingHarm #EURegulation

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