01.06.2026

Europe’s leading online gambling operators support the new CEN standard on markers of harm as voluntary baseline for identifying risky gambling behaviour. 

BRUSSELS, 1 JUNE 2026 – The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) welcomes the publication of the European standard on markers of harm in gambling (EN 18144), on 31 May 2026, through the national standardisation bodies of the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN). EGBA and its members support the standard as an important voluntary baseline for identifying risky gambling behaviour, and its members are committed to aligning their player protection frameworks with the standard across Europe.

The standard establishes a strong baseline for consumer protection across Europe, identifying nine core behavioural markers that operators can use to recognise risky gambling patterns before they escalate:

• changes in stake volume or frequency.
• speed or intensity of play.
• deposit frequency, size, or failed deposits.
• withdrawals and cancelled withdrawals.
• player-initiated contact.
• gambling session duration or time-of-day play.
• use of multiple products.
• net losses or loss trajectories over time.
• changes to safety tools such as limits and self-exclusion.

EGBA proposed this initiative to CEN in 2022 and actively participated in its development alongside operators, national authorities, academics, and other harm prevention stakeholders. The resulting standard – the first of its kind in the gambling industry – is grounded in the latest research and received overwhelming approval from national standardisation bodies in October 2025.

EGBA members are already putting the standard into practice in Europe:

• Most members already monitor all nine behavioural indicators, with many having embedded them across all their operations.
• Members apply risk-scoring models to continuously assess player behaviour and flag emerging risk patterns.
• Members are committed to progressive alignment with the standard across all their operations.

“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,“ said Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA.

As a voluntary tool, the standard complements existing national regulatory frameworks across Europe. In some jurisdictions, certain markers may not be applicable where they conflict with national law, and implementation will reflect the regulatory realities of each market. EGBA remains committed to supporting its members and the wider industry to drive implementation of the standard across Europe.

The standard (EN 18144) is now available for purchase from national standardisation bodies across Europe.

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.