EGBA Members Commit to New European Harm Prevention Standard

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has welcomed publication of Europe's first standardised framework for identifying gambling harm, as the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) released EN 18144 on 31 May 2026 through national standardisation bodies across the continent.

The voluntary standard establishes nine core behavioral markers that operators can monitor to recognise risky gambling patterns before they escalate into more serious problems. EGBA members, representing approximately 30% of Europe's online gambling gross gaming revenue, have committed to aligning their player protection frameworks with the new baseline across their operations in 21 European countries.

Nine Core Risk Indicators Defined

The EN 18144 standard identifies specific behavioral changes that operators should monitor:

• Changes in stake volume or frequency
• Speed or intensity of play alterations
• Deposit frequency, size, or failed deposit patterns
• Withdrawal behaviour and cancelled withdrawals
• Player-initiated contact patterns
• Gambling session duration or time-of-day play changes
• Use of multiple products
• Net losses or loss trajectories over time
• Changes to safety tools such as limits and self-exclusion

These markers are grounded in the latest research and received overwhelming approval from national standardisation bodies in October 2025, following a development process that began when EGBA proposed the initiative to CEN in 2022.

Industry Implementation Already Underway

EGBA members report advanced implementation of the standard's requirements. Most members already monitor all nine behavioral indicators, with many having embedded these markers across their entire operations. The operators use risk-scoring models to continuously assess player behaviour and flag emerging risk patterns.

"This is an important milestone for player protection in Europe. When widely adopted, this voluntary standard will lead to earlier identification of risky play and, ultimately, better protection for players. Our members are ahead of the curve on implementation – they are already applying many aspects of the standard and are committed to alignment across their European operations. We encourage other operators to adopt the standard and help raise the bar on player protection across Europe."

— Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA

The development process involved extensive collaboration between operators, national authorities, academics, and other harm prevention stakeholders, making it the first standardised approach of its kind in the gambling industry.

Regulatory Integration and Market Adaptation

As a voluntary tool, EN 18144 complements existing national regulatory frameworks rather than replacing them. EGBA has previously warned that EU gambling levy proposals could boost black market operators by increasing compliance costs, highlighting the industry association's focus on balancing regulation with market competitiveness.

The standard is now available for purchase from national standardisation bodies across Europe, allowing operators beyond EGBA's membership to adopt the framework. The association has committed to supporting both members and the wider industry in driving implementation across European markets.

EGBA represents leading online gambling operators that are established, licensed, and regulated within the EU. Members collectively hold 321 online gambling licences, each carrying strict compliance requirements, and adhere to additional industry standards on responsible advertising, anti-money laundering, and player protection.

Precedent for Cross-Border Player Protection

The publication of EN 18144 represents a significant shift toward harmonised harm prevention standards across Europe's fragmented regulatory landscape. By establishing voluntary baseline criteria that transcend national boundaries, the standard could influence how regulators approach player protection requirements in future licensing frameworks.

The timing proves particularly relevant as several European jurisdictions review their gambling regulations. Operators now have a research-backed reference point for demonstrating due diligence in harm prevention, potentially streamlining compliance across multiple markets. However, the standard's voluntary nature raises questions about adoption rates among operators outside major trade associations.

For compliance officers, the nine markers provide a concrete checklist for risk assessment systems, though implementation costs and technical requirements remain undefined. The standard's reception by national regulators – whether as best practice guidance or future mandatory requirements – will likely determine its long-term impact on European gambling regulation.