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The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is celebrating a big win. The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) just approved a draft for a Europe-wide standard to spot and prevent gambling harm. For the first time, countries across Europe are moving toward a common playbook for protecting players.
Broad Support from Across Europe
Most national standardization bodies backed the proposal, showing that experts all over Europe are on board with one approach to harm prevention. The goal is pretty clear: set out shared rules for recognizing risky gambling and help both regulators and operators step in early when people start getting into trouble.
Vasiliki Panousi, who handles EU affairs for EGBA, summed up the mood:
“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.”
Looking Ahead to 2026
Next, CEN will run through the final checks—translating the standard and making sure all the boxes are ticked. If everything stays on track, the standard will be ready in early 2026. Regulators and gambling companies can then start using it voluntarily.
EGBA’s Secretary General, Maarten Haijer, called the vote a huge moment:
“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.”
Teamwork Across the Continent
EGBA also gave a special shout-out to Dr. Maris Catania, who led the project, and to the French Standardization Association (AFNOR) for coordinating the work as CEN’s secretariat.
This standard didn’t come out of nowhere. National committees, regulators, academics, operators, and harm-prevention experts have all pitched in over the past several years.
Once it’s official, this standard should become the main guide for responsible gambling all over Europe. It encourages everyone to be more consistent and transparent, and helps spot risky behavior early, giving people a better shot at staying safe.
Source: iGaming Express
