European Safer Gambling Week 2025 achieves record participation and impact
16.12.2025
This year’s European Safer Gambling Week achieved record participation with 221 partners across 24 countries, extending for the first time to football matches and retail outlets.
Brussels, 16 December 2025 – The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) today announces record-breaking results from its fifth annual European Safer Gambling Week, held from 17-23 November. The initiative brought together Europe’s gambling sector for a dedicated week of action to raise awareness about safer gambling, including a social media campaign, events programme, launch of a new resource website, and for the first time, activations at televised football matches and retail outlets.
This year’s edition saw 221 partners actively participate[1] – a 14% increase from 2024 – and exceptional engagement across 24 countries.[2] Seven regulatory authorities participated by either joining the social media campaign or speaking at events.
The social media campaign led by EGBA members reached an audience of 4.1 million[3] – a 32% increase on 2024 – and featured over 1,280 posts containing accessible safer gambling messages in local languages. These posts were shared across various social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
European Safer Gambling Week-themed pitch-side LED banners (see example), in-stadium mega screen graphics, or public address announcements were featured at 8 televised football matches in Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, and Italy.[4] These introduced European Safer Gambling Week and featured safety messages in local languages. Similar thematic safety messaging was also displayed across major retail betting outlets for the first time.
The campaign featured 23 events and online sessions across Europe, gathering 4,000 registrations and bringing together over 2,500 attendees and 120 speakers. The events covered topics such as markers of harm, responsible advertising, minor protection, self-exclusion, the role of payments, and the black market’s negative impact on consumer protection. Recordings of the various events are available here.
This year’s campaign also saw the launch of a dedicated website (www.safergambling.eu), which includes country-specific helpline information, self-exclusion options, and other support resources for players.
The annual European Safer Gambling Week initiative builds on the year-round commitment of EGBA members to player protection and promoting safe and sustainable play, which in 2024 resulted in them sharing 100 million safety messages with their European customers.[5]
Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA, said: “European Safer Gambling Week 2025 marked an important milestone. With over 200 partners actively participating, we are pleased to see the initiative continue to grow each year. For the first time, we brought safer gambling messages to football stadiums and retail outlets across Europe. The quality of discussions at the events was again very high. We would like to thank all participants for their support in making this year’s campaign a great success.”
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[1] Partners included online gambling operators, regulatory authorities, lotteries, land-based casinos, harm prevention organisations, B2B suppliers, tech providers, media affiliates, trade associations, and football clubs.
[2] Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, and Sweden.
[3] The number of social media users that potentially saw social media content containing the campaign hashtag #ESGW25, measured using a social media listening tool.
[4] European Safer Gambling Week-themed pitch-side LED banners were displayed at six football matches during the week: CSKA Sofia vs Botev Plovdiv, Montana 1921 vs Levski Sofia, Septemvri Sofia vs Ludogorets (Bulgaria); Wolfsburg vs Bayer Leverkusen, Hertha Berlin vs Braunschweig (Germany); Panserraikos vs Panathinaikos (Greece). In-stadium mega screen graphics and public address announcements were also featured at Lazio vs Lecce and Hellas Verona vs Parma (Italy).
[5] Sustainability Report 2025, EGBA (2025).
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 protects consumers and channels consumer demand towards regulated operators. As part of its commitment to player protection, EGBA also organises the annual European Safer Gambling Week, bringing together industry stakeholders to promote safe and sustainable play.
EGBA members collectively hold 321 online gambling licences – each with its own strict compliance requirements – to offer their services across 21 European countries. Beyond these requirements, members also adhere to EGBA’s industry standards and codes on responsible advertising, anti-money laundering, and player protection. Together, they account for approximately 30% of Europe’s online gambling gross gaming revenue.
