Europe Set to Implement Common Gambling Harm Indicators by 2026
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has expressed strong approval following the European Committee for Standardization’s (CEN) decision to move forward with a draft European standard for gambling harm indicators. This development signifies a notable step toward establishing a cohesive framework aimed at safeguarding players throughout Europe. Europe gambling harm indicators
Support for the standard has come from most national standardization bodies, with a majority voting in favor of its adoption. The initiative seeks to create a common set of criteria to identify risky gambling behaviors and to enhance early intervention strategies. Vasiliki Panousi, Senior Manager for EU Affairs at EGBA, remarked, “After years of driving this project, through its conception and development, seeing the overwhelming support it has received is incredibly rewarding. 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.”
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Looking ahead, the standard awaits final approval from CEN, which involves translation and completing necessary procedural steps, processes that could take several months. The final confirmation is anticipated by early 2026, after which regulators and gambling operators across Europe will have the option to implement the standard voluntarily. Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA, commented, “The positive outcome of this vote is a real testament to the power of collaboration across our sector. 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 also extended its appreciation to Dr. Maris Catania, who led the initiative, and to AFNOR, the French Standardization Association, which coordinated the project as CEN’s secretariat. The organization further acknowledged the valuable contributions of representatives from national standardization committees, academics, regulators, operators, and harm-prevention experts, whose input over the multi-year effort was instrumental in reaching this milestone. Europe gambling harm indicators
