The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has urged all national standardisation organisations across the European Union to launch a unified marker for gambling harm. The move comes amidst reports of increased cross-border disputes across Europe’s online gambling industry. EGBA representatives submitted the proposal as the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) prepares to vote.
EGBA Urges Unified Standards for Safer Gambling Across Europe: Key Points of the Story
- Representatives from the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) urged delegates of national standardisation bodies to standardise markers of online gambling harm, as voting in the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) is underway.
- The voting, which closes on September 25, 2025, is the result of a multi-year collaborative effort that began with the EGBA’s original proposal to the CEN back in 2022.
- The EGBA proposed standardising behavioural indicators of gambling harm in Europe’s online gambling industry, which, when assessed collectively, could help identify risky or problematic gambling behaviour.
EGBA Calls for Collaborative Effort to Counter Cross-Border Gambling Disputes
The EGBA proposed to national standardisation bodies across the EU, requesting their support for a new European standard on online gambling harm. The move comes amidst growing reports of cross-border disputes dividing Europe’s online betting industry. The proposal was put forth during the voting process of the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), which closes on September 25, 2025.
According to the EGBA press release, the proposal aims to create a standard set of markers for gambling harm, which will track behavioural patterns such as changes in time, speed, and game duration. The EGBA believes this will enable operators to identify signs of risky gambling behaviour early on. While several organisations across Europe currently use markers of gambling harm, they lack common grounds for agreement.
The EGBA’s proposed standardisation initiative fills that void by creating a unified indicator backed by evidence, research, and scientific expertise. This new European standard will not only enable the early detection of risky gambling across borders and operators, but also raise the bar on player protection across the sector, helping users avoid online casino scams and building a safer, more transparent gambling environment.
Commenting on the initiative, 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.
Fragmented Enforcement Efforts Across Borders a Concern for EU Gambling Operators
While the EGBA is pushing for harmonisation across EU borders, disputes between regional gambling regulators are testing the limits of a single-market framework. The most recent example is Malta’s Gaming Act 56A, popularly referred to as Bill 55, which empowers local courts to override foreign judicial rulings against operators licensed in Malta, in cases where such rulings contravene local regulations.
The European Commission views Malta’s standing as an absolute form of power and the source of mistrust among EU member states. As a result, the EC initiated infringement proceedings against Bill 55. If the matter escalates, it could be heard by the Court of Justice of the European Union.
The EGBA is working towards building a harmonised framework to raise player safety standards across the EU. While supporters argue that a unified behavioural tracker can be implemented without imposing an EU-wide regulatory regime on online gambling, there is no “one size fits all” solution to the problem.
Irrespective of the outcome of the CEN vote, it is evident that online gambling in Europe is growing exponentially. According to recent insights, the EGBA contributed €3.8 billion in taxes to the European Union economy in 2024. Therefore, the need for quicker dispute resolutions, especially in regulatory matters, cannot be overlooked.