Europe to Adopt Unified Gambling Harm Standard in 2026
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has welcomed the approval of a draft European standard for gambling harm indicators by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). The decision marks a major milestone toward a unified framework for player protection across Europe.
Standard Receives Broad Support from National Bodies
The majority of national standardization institutes voted in favor of adopting the proposal, paving the way for its final approval. The initiative aims to define a shared set of criteria for identifying risky gambling behavior and improving early intervention measures. Vasiliki Panousi, Senior Manager for EU Affairs at EGBA said:
“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.”
Final Approval Expected in Early 2026
Before publication, the standard must undergo final confirmation by CEN. This process includes translation and the completion of formal procedural steps, which may take several months. The approval is expected to conclude in early 2026, after which regulators and gambling operators across Europe will be able to adopt the standard voluntarily. Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA said:
“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 extended its gratitude to Dr. Maris Catania, who led the project, and to AFNOR, the French Standardization Association, which coordinated the project as CEN’s secretariat.
The organization also thanked representatives of national standardization committees, academics, regulators, operators, and harm-prevention experts who contributed their knowledge during the multi-year collaboration.
