Key Moments:
- National standardization bodies have overwhelmingly approved the draft European standard on markers of harm
- The voting process for the standard concluded on 25 September
- Formal finalization by CEN is projected for completion by early 2026
Approval of Markers of Harm Standard
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has expressed strong support for the recent vote by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) regarding the draft European standard on markers of harm. The standard gained broad backing from national standardization bodies, marking a key development for player protection efforts across Europe.
Significance Highlighted by Industry Leaders
Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA, stated, “The positive outcome of this vote is a real testament to the power of collaboration across our sector,” and further commented on the vision behind proposing this initiative and the broad support received.
Vasiliki Panousi, Senior Manager of EU Affairs at EGBA, emphasized, “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.”
Next Steps Toward Implementation
Although the positive vote outcome marks a major achievement, the draft standard now proceeds to CEN’s formal finalization phase. This process involves language translations and other procedural tasks, and is expected to continue over several months, with completion anticipated by early 2026.
| Milestone | Status | Expected Completion |
|---|---|---|
| Draft Standard Vote by National Bodies | Completed | 25 September |
| Formal CEN Finalization Process | Ongoing | Early 2026 |
- Author
Daniel Williams
