The initiative stems from a proposal by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), but has found broad support among European technical and standardization bodies. According to the vote on September 25, 2025, a clear majority of national standardization authorities voted in favor of introducing the new reference standard.
Uniform criteria for risky behavior
The standard aims to establish uniform criteria for risky gaming behavior across Europe for the first time. The goal is to provide providers and supervisory authorities with uniform tools to identify conspicuous gaming patterns earlier and take preventive action.
The background to this is the increasing discussion about uniform quality standards in the area of responsible gaming, which has so far been regulated very differently at the national level.
Broadly supported project
The development of the standard took several years. It was coordinated under the leadership of the French standardization organization AFNOR and supported by a European team of experts, including representatives from regulatory authorities, academia, the gambling industry, and addiction prevention.
The project was led by Dr. Maris Catania, a recognized expert in gambling behavior research. Sources in Brussels say that the draft was revised in numerous working groups and scientifically reviewed several times before it was formally finalized.
Voices from the industry
The EGBA, which originally submitted the proposal to the CEN process, described its adoption as “a significant step towards uniform European player protection.”
Secretary General Maarten Haijer spoke of “proof of the power of cooperation” in an industry that is increasingly relying on data-based approaches.
Vasiliki Panousi, Senior Manager for EU Affairs, also emphasized the benefits of the standard: According to Panousi, it enables “a sound and Europe-wide comparable basis for the prevention of gambling addiction.”
Publication expected in early 2026
Before the standard comes into force, it must still go through the formal finalization process of the CEN. This includes linguistic adjustments and technical formatting. Publication is expected in early 2026.
Application of the standard remains voluntary, but it is intended to serve as a guide, particularly for licensed gambling operators and regulatory authorities. Industry observers expect that the standard could serve as the basis for comparable monitoring systems across Europe in the long term.
Significance for the European market
The new regulations establish common minimum scientific criteria for dealing with risky gambling behavior for the first time—a step that could harmonize the previously highly fragmented regulatory landscape in Europe.
In addition, the standard is also expected to be used as a reference in national responsible gaming programs and licensing requirements in the future.
However, whether the standard will actually be adopted across the board depends on the extent to which national regulators and operators are willing to integrate it into their systems.