EGBA Welcomes GREF Support For European Standard On Markers Of Harm
12.02.2025
Gambling regulators’ support reinforces importance of collaborative approach to safer gambling.
Brussels, 12 February 2025 – The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) welcomes the Gambling Regulators European Forum’s (GREF) support for the development of a European standard on markers of harm for online gambling within the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN). This important standardisation initiative, which stems from an EGBA proposal submitted in 2022, aims to establish a set of behavioural indicators to help more quickly and accurately identify problematic gambling behaviours, also known as “markers of harm”.
Development of the European standard within CEN, which began in 2023, brings together expertise from academia, gambling regulators, operators, and harm prevention professionals across Europe. Expected to be finalised and published by the end of 2025, the standard will be voluntary in nature and will provide a much-needed common definition of markers of harm. A detailed discussion of markers of harm took place in an earlier EGBA webinar on the topic.
“We very much welcome GREF’s support for this important initiative,” said Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA. “The development of a European standard on markers of harm will be a crucial step forward for safer gambling in Europe. It will help establish a more common understanding of problem gambling behaviours and raise the bar on player protection across the industry. Collaboration on safer gambling is crucial and we call on all stakeholders participating in the CEN standardisation process to support its finalisation in the coming months.”
– ENDS –
About EGBA
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is the Brussels-based trade association representing the leading online gambling operators established, licensed, and regulated within the EU. EGBA collaborates with national and EU authorities and other stakeholders to foster a well-regulated online gambling market that ensures high consumer protection standards while acknowledging internet realities and evolving consumer preferences. As part of its commitment to safer gambling, EGBA organises and coordinates the annual European Safer Gambling Week, bringing together industry stakeholders to promote safe and sustainable play.
EGBA members adhere to the highest regulatory standards, collectively holding 321 online gambling licences—each licence with its own rigorous compliance requirements—and serving over 30 million customers across 21 European countries. Together, they represent approximately 30% of Europe’s 2024 online gambling gross gaming revenue (GGR).