Standards

A key objective of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is to promote a sustainable online gambling sector in Europe where customers can enjoy a safe and fun online gambling experience inside a well-regulated and competitive market. To support this, EGBA members developed and adhere to an ambitious set of European industry standards to complement the many different and stringent licensing requirements they already comply with in the European countries where they operate. The standards are mandatory for all EGBA members to comply and ensure they:

Stay ahead of a fast changing technological environment.
Promote safer gambling and maintain a consistent and high level of consumer protection for all their customers in Europe.
Offer binding and independent dispute settlement for their consumers.

European responsibility standards

EGBA’s standards also incorporate the Responsible Remote Gambling Measures, a European standard established by the European Committee for standardisation (CEN). The compliance of EGBA members with this CEN standard is independently audited and verified each year by eCOGRA, a London-based ISO/IEC 17025 accredited testing agency and player protection and standards organisation.

The CEN standard contains 134 implementing measures aimed at achieving the following policy objectives:

The protection of vulnerable customers.
The prevention of underage gambling.
Combating fraudulent and criminal behaviour.
Protection of customer privacy and safeguarding of information.
Prompt and accurate customer payments.
Fair gaming.
Responsible marketing.
Commitment to customer satisfaction and support.
Secure, safe and reliable operating environment.

The CEN standard is both an evidence-based self-regulatory measure for gambling companies and a benchmark which informs policymakers at national and EU-level of the essential measures which support a safe and secure environment for European gamblers. The CEN standard was developed by a wide range of experts and stakeholders involved in different aspects of the online gambling sector, including academics in criminology and addiction, gambling companies, player associations and experts on problem gambling.

Advertising in a socially responsible way

In addition to this, EGBA has strengthened its commitment to sustainability and safer gambling by publishing the first pan-European code of conduct on responsible advertising for online gambling. The code is broad in scope and introduces essential standards for advertising content, across all media platforms, and dedicated measures for social media and minor protection.

Promoting the highest standards in data protection

EGBA has also published a draft code of conduct on data protection which establishes dedicated sector-specific rules and best practices to ensure its members meet the highest standards of compliance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR) and promotes the highest standards of data protection in the online gambling sector.