As part of European Safer Gambling Week 2025 (ESGW25), the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is organising a key webinar entitled Markers of Harm: A New European Standard for Player Protection.
A historic moment for player protection
For several years, the EGBA has been leading an ambitious project to develop a European standard for gambling harm markers. This webinar is a strategic milestone: it will mark the official presentation of this standard, which has recently been validated by the European authorities.
The European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) recently approved this standardised framework by a large majority. For Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of the EGBA, the result is clear:
“The positive outcome of this vote clearly demonstrates the strength of cooperation within our industry. When the EGBA first presented this initiative to the CEN, our idea was to create a commonly accepted standard that would benefit players across Europe. We are delighted with the support this standard has received, and I would like to personally thank all stakeholders who participated in this process. The result shows what can be achieved when we work together to strengthen player protection.”
Online gambling poses specific challenges: unlike in physical environments, operators have less direct contact with players. Identifying behavioural signals — such as chasing losses, variations in stakes, or other signals — becomes fundamental to intervening early and effectively. The EGBA had already mentioned that several operators were using these indicators, but that there was no common list.
The European standard will harmonise this list: it will be based on scientific research and feedback from experts in addiction, regulation, prevention and the gambling industry.
What the webinar will cover
The webinar on 19 November will not only be an announcement: it will serve as a platform for training and explanation. On the agenda:
- Presentation of the European standard on harm markers.
- Details of the main markers: which behaviours are now recognised as risk signals?
- Discussion on the next steps: deployment, adoption by operators, integration into player protection practices.
The event will be hosted by leading figures in the sector: Dr Maris Catania, Director of Player Sustainability at LeoVegas, and Vasiliki Panousi, Senior Manager of European Affairs at the EGBA.
ESGW25: a strategic week
This webinar is part of European Safer Gambling Week 2025, organised by the EGBA from 17 to 23 November. This annual initiative brings together operators, regulators, prevention associations and other stakeholders to promote responsible gambling.
The 2025 edition has an expanded agenda: in addition to the webinar on risk markers, other sessions will address topics such as responsible advertising, fraud and black markets in gambling.
The EGBA’s webinar, Markers of Harm: A New European Standard for Player Protection, part of European Safer Gambling Week 2025, marks a major strategic step forward for the protection of online players. By proposing a unified European standard for detecting signs of problem gambling, the EGBA is paving the way for more effective and coordinated accountability among operators and regulators across the continent.