The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has urged national standardisation delegates to support a new European standard on markers of harm in online gambling.

The decisive vote at the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) is set to close on 25 September 2025.

Towards a common framework

The proposal represents the culmination of a three-year process initiated by EGBA in 2022. The planned standard is designed to establish a shared list of behavioural indicators that can be used to detect risky or harmful gambling. 

These may include factors such as shifts in speed, time, or frequency of play, which, when assessed together, can flag problematic patterns at an earlier stage.

While many gambling operators already use their own internal harm detection systems, the EGBA explained, there has never been a unified, evidence-based framework agreed across the industry. 

The new standard, informed by academic research and scientific expertise, seeks to close that gap and ensure consistency in how operators identify and respond to at-risk behaviour.

Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA, said: “The vote represents a milestone moment for safer gambling in Europe. This EGBA-proposed initiative demonstrates precisely the kind of collaboration we need more of – bringing together stakeholders to share knowledge and experiences to create something for the common good. 

“We call on national delegates to approve the important standard, which will contribute to a better understanding of problem gambling behaviour and support more effective harm prevention across Europe.”

A collaborative effort

The initiative has been developed within the CEN framework, which has brought together experts from across the continent. 

National delegations have included academics, regulators, operators and harm-prevention professionals. The process has also drawn backing from key groups such as the Gambling Regulators European Forum (GREF).

If adopted, the new framework will not be mandatory, but regulators will be able to incorporate it into their domestic safer gambling policies. CEN is expected to publish the finalised standard by early 2026.