The EU has approved the European Gaming and Betting Association’s (EGBA) draft for standardized markers of harm in gambling.

After years of discussions and with the help of the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), EU markets will have better tools to protect players. While it will take time to finalize the list, this decision will profoundly impact the EU’s responsible gambling efforts.

Why Markers of Harm Are Important

Markers of harm are behavioral patterns that help identify if a person is suffering from gambling addiction. The more markers someone exhibits, the higher the likelihood of addiction. Aside from spending too much time gambling or chasing losses, other red flags include:

• Depositing frequently
• Constantly looking for new bonuses
• Using multiple payment methods
• Increasing deposit amounts

While understanding markers of harm is essential, it’s also crucial to have the appropriate tools to monitor them. Many European markets offer some safeguards. However, without a standard for identifying risky behavior, protection is difficult.

Road to Standardization

The EGBA has been working to have a unified standard for markers of harm for years. Since each EU country has its own measures, this leads to inconsistent consumer protection. That’s why in 2022, the EGBA proposed to create a standardized list of markers of harm that could provide adequate security throughout the EU.

The EGBA and CEN conducted a ballot among each European nation’s standardization bodies to gain approval for the project.

After the proposal was approved, CEN spent the following years preparing a draft. They consulted various experts, regulators, and academics. This draft was finally presented to the national standardization bodies in 2025, and they had until September to approve it.

Approval and Next Steps

The draft standards received overwhelming approval from the standardization bodies. Once implemented, member states will be able to recognize problem gambling behavior earlier and help players with appropriate tools.

The EGBA also hopes this will inspire gambling stakeholders to become more involved in responsible gambling and share their expertise.

Following this approval, the CEN will now begin the finalization process. That includes translating the text into other languages and following the necessary procedures. The full list is expected to be published in early 2026, at which point regulators and operators can begin adopting it.

A Growing Market

This approval is yet another milestone in Europe’s wave of new reforms. The reforms are caused by the steady growth of the online gambling market as it becomes more widespread. The European market is currently valued at around €50 billion, and EGBA forecasts continued growth:

As you can see, from 2019 to 2025, the online gross gaming revenue has almost doubled. Still, the EGBA sees a positive outlook for the industry with a steady growth and a GGR of €60+ billion.

That’s why the Association believes operators must take greater responsibility. They must make sure the increasing number of customers can play safely. Many countries have also started implementing new rules, like Germany’s progressive tax or the UK’s new levy.

The Industry’s Future

While the official list of markers of harm hasn’t been published yet, its approval marks a milestone in the EU’s efforts to promote responsible gambling.

According to a 2022 study commissioned by the EGBA, the absence of a unified screening tool makes it hard to compare problem gambling rates. This new standard will help monitor those rates and provide better protection.