The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is urging representatives of ISO to adopt a landmark European standard for cyber-gaming hazard markers in the vote of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). The ballot will end on 25 September, marking the coming to fruition of a three-year collaborative effort initiated in 2022 by EGBA to the EU Standards Agency.
The European standard aims to establish a list of behavioural indicators that, through a comprehensive analysis (e.g., changes in game speed, time and duration), identify potential risk and problem gambling behaviour. EGBA, representing network gaming operators, indicated that these markers were important tools for early intervention and harm prevention in a network gambling environment.
The CEN standard-setting process brings together expert scholars, lottery regulators, operators, injury prevention professionals and other key stakeholders from across Europe. The initiative has received support from key stakeholders, including the European Forum of Gambler Regulators (GREF).
EGBA noted that although many organizations, including lottery agencies, already use hazard markers in “safer lottery” studios, there is a lack of a consensus framework that clearly defines what constitutes hazard markers. The Standard Initiative aims to fill this gap by establishing a list of generic behavioural indicators based on research and scientific evidence.
According to EGBA, this would help to achieve earlier and more consistent risk investment tests across different operators and across borders, and to improve the overall level of protection for industry players. If approved, the final criteria are expected to be issued by CEN by early 2026. The standard is voluntary and Internet gambling regulators are free to decide whether or not to include it in a national framework for safer gambling.
“This vote marks a milestone in Europe’s safer gambling effort, and EGBA Secretary-General Martten Hayer said, “This initiative, proposed by EGBA, demonstrates the much-needed spirit of collaboration — bringing together stakeholders to share knowledge and experience and to create value for the common good. We call on all representatives to endorse this important standard, which will contribute to a better understanding of problem gambling and support more effective harm prevention throughout Europe.”