EGBA hails approval of draft EU gambling harm markers
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has welcomed the outcome of a Europe-wide vote approving the draft of the standard on markers of gambling harm.
National standardisation bodies within the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) voted in favour of the proposal, which the EGBA originally tabled. The framework, once finalised, will establish the first European standard for identifying risky gambling behaviours.
National vote secures first common European framework
The voting process concluded on 25 September, with the outcome announced in Brussels on 1 October. According to EGBA, the measure will provide “a commonly agreed standard that would benefit players across Europe.”
“The positive outcome of this vote is a real testament to the power of collaboration across our sector,” Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA, said. “When EGBA first proposed this initiative to CEN, we envisioned creating a commonly agreed standard that would benefit players across Europe. We’re delighted with the support the standard has received, and I want to personally thank all the stakeholders who participated in this process. The result shows what happens when we work together to strengthen player protection.”
EGBA emphasised that the standard is intended to identify behavioural indicators such as changes in playing speed, frequency, or duration, which can suggest that a player may be at risk.
“After years of driving this project, through its conception and development, seeing the overwhelming support it has received is incredibly rewarding,” Vasiliki Panousi, Senior Manager of EU Affairs at EGBA, said. “This will be the first commonly agreed European standard for identifying risky gambling behaviours, and it will offer an essential building block for effective harm prevention in Europe. The cooperation to develop the standard was extremely valuable, bringing together diverse expertise from across the continent.”
Development involved regulators, experts, and operators
EGBA credited a wide range of contributors to the outcome, singling out project leader Dr. Maris Catania and AFNOR, the French standardisation body which acted as the Secretariat in CEN.
“We would also like to thank all the delegates from national standardisation committees, academics, regulators, operators, and harm prevention experts who contributed their expertise throughout this multi-year collaborative process,” the EGBA said in a statement.
The Brussels-based trade body has repeatedly stressed the need for standard rules across European markets. EGBA argued that fragmented approaches leave gaps in player protection and enforcement. Earlier in September, EGBA urged national delegates to “vote yes” to the measure, warning that “operators already deploy such tools but lack a common definition across markets”.
Standard moves to finalisation ahead of 2026 rollout
While the vote secures approval, the standard must now complete CEN’s formal procedures before it is published. “The outcome of the vote is a milestone, but the standard must now go through the formal CEN finalisation process before it will be published. This process can take several months, and includes language translations and other procedural requirements,” the EGBA explained.
Publication is expected in early 2026, after which gambling regulators and operators across Europe will be free to adopt the framework voluntarily.
EGBA believes the new benchmark will enable earlier interventions, improve player protection, and ensure greater consistency across borders. It also links the initiative to its broader goal of promoting harmonisation in gambling regulation within the EU, both to support consumer safety and to strengthen efforts against unlicensed operators.
All roads lead to the mother of all conferences in Rome, 03–06 November 2025. SiGMA Central Europe takes centre stage at Fiera Roma, uniting 30,000 delegates, 1,000+ exhibitors, and 550+ expert speakers. This is where legacies are built, and the future takes shape. Connect with the innovators’ driving change.
