Key Moments:
- The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) endorsed a draft for a continent-wide gambling harm prevention standard.
- National standardization organizations across Europe strongly supported a shared approach to identifying and addressing gambling risks.
- The new standard will be finalized and open for voluntary adoption by regulators and operators in early 2026.
Pan-European Consensus on Player Protection
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) achieved a major milestone as CEN approved a draft standard to unify Europe’s efforts against gambling-related harm. For the first time, countries throughout Europe are collaborating on a single set of guidelines designed to strengthen player safeguards. The initiative focuses on setting clear criteria for detecting risky gambling and supporting early intervention for affected players.
Industry and Expert Involvement Drives Initiative Forward
The proposal received backing from a majority of national standardization authorities, reflecting broad consensus among industry experts and policymakers. This new standard emerged from extensive collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including regulators, researchers, operators, and harm prevention specialists.
Vasiliki Panousi, responsible for EU affairs at EGBA, expressed appreciation for the collective effort and the positive response, stating:
“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 behaviors, 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.”
Timeline and Anticipated Implementation
CEN is now moving forward with administrative steps, including translation and final verifications, with an aim to have the new standard ready for adoption in early 2026. Once published, both gambling regulators and industry operators will be able to implement the guidelines on a voluntary basis.
Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA, described the outcome as a pivotal development, commenting:
“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.”
Coordinated Approach Across Stakeholders
Special recognition was offered to Dr. Maris Catania for leading the project and to the French Standardization Association (AFNOR) for its role as the CEN secretariat. Years of cooperation among committees, academic experts, industry operators, and harm prevention professionals have culminated in the creation of this guidance framework.
Upon official introduction, the standard is poised to act as the primary benchmark for responsible gambling throughout Europe. It is intended to enhance best practices across jurisdictions, promote consistency, increase transparency, and allow for more effective early detection of harmful gambling behaviors.
Project Timeline
| Milestone | Status/Timing |
|---|---|
| CEN Approval of Draft Standard | Completed |
| Translation and Final Checks | In Progress |
| Standard Available for Adoption | Expected Early 2026 |
- Author
Daniel Williams
