Compliance Updates
EGBA Calls for Support for Landmark European Safer Gambling Standard
Reading Time: 2 minutes
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) urged the delegates of national standardisation bodies to approve a landmark European standard on markers of harm in online gambling in the voting process at the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN). The vote, closing on 25 September 2025, represents the culmination of a multi-year collaborative effort that began with EGBA’s original proposal to CEN – the official EU standardisation body – in 2022.
The European standard on markers of harm aims to establish a list of behavioural indicators that, when analysed together, can signal risky or problematic gambling behaviour. These markers – such as changes in speed, time and duration of play – are essential tools for enabling early intervention and harm prevention in the online gambling environment.
A Collaborative European Effort
This standardisation initiative exemplifies the collaborative approach that safer gambling requires. Since development began, the CEN process has brought together experts from across Europe, including academics, gambling regulators, operators, harm prevention professionals and other key stakeholders through their national standardisation delegations. The process has already secured significant support from key stakeholders, including the Gambling Regulators European Forum (GREF).
Addressing a Critical Gap
Currently, while many organisations, including gambling operators, use markers of harm in their safer gambling efforts, there is no commonly agreed framework defining which behaviours constitute markers of harm. This standardisation initiative aims to resolve that critical gap by creating a unified, evidence-based list of behavioural indicators grounded in the latest research and scientific expertise. The standard will enable earlier and more consistent detection of risky play across operators and borders, and help raise the bar on player protection industry-wide.
“The vote represents a milestone moment for safer gambling in Europe. This EGBA-proposed initiative demonstrates precisely the kind of collaboration we need more of – bringing together stakeholders to share knowledge and experiences to create something for the common good. We call on national delegates to approve the important standard, which will contribute to a better understanding of problem gambling behaviour and support more effective harm prevention across Europe,” said Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA.
If approved, the finalised standard is expected to be published by CEN by the beginning of 2026 at the latest. The standard will be voluntary in nature and online gambling regulators will remain free to decide whether they wish to incorporate it into their national safer gambling frameworks.
The post EGBA Calls for Support for Landmark European Safer Gambling Standard appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
The UK Gambling Commission has announced that the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG) will close following the completion of its original remit.
ABSG was established to provide oversight and challenge in relation to the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms. With the conclusion of that strategy and the delivery of key milestones, the Commission has determined that the time is right to bring ABSG’s work to a close and to focus on new arrangements better aligned to the next phase of research and regulation.
Over the course of its work, ABSG has contributed to several important developments in gambling regulation, including:
- recognition of gambling harms as a public health issue
- ensuring the voices of those with lived experience are included in policy and regulation through the creation of the Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP)
- supporting the introduction of the statutory levy to fund independent research, education and treatment.
The Commission will now begin work to establish a new research-focused expert group to support the expanded role of research made possible through levy funding.
Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission, said: “ABSG has played an important role in shaping how we think about gambling harms, and embedding lived experience perspectives into regulation. I want to thank all current and former members for their contribution and commitment.
“As we move into a new phase with the implementation of research programmes funded by the statutory levy, our priority is to ensure we have the right expert input to help inform our work. This is the right time to close ABSG and establish new arrangements that reflect the future needs of our gambling regulation and research.”
Helen Child, Head of Governance said: “ABSG have made a huge contribution to gambling regulation and the Commission. I am grateful for the insight, engagement and challenge each and every member has provided.”
The post UK Gambling Commission to close Advisory Board for Safer Gambling appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Reading Time: < 1 minute
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested the Australian internet service providers (ISPs) to block more illegal online gambling and affiliate sites, after investigations found these services to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
The latest sites blocked include Slot Lounge, Betzillo, FastSpin99, Spinit and PokiesPros.
Website blocking is one of a range of enforcement options to protect Australians against illegal online gambling. Since the ACMA made its first blocking request in November 2019, 1322 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked. Around 220 illegal services have also pulled out of the Australian market since the ACMA started enforcing new illegal online gambling rules in 2017.
The post ACMA Blocks More Illegal Online Gambling Websites appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Only one in twelve German betting websites is legal, warns the German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) at the start of the UEFA Champions League season: there are at least 382 illegal German-language websites offering sports betting compared to just 34 legal betting sites. The DSWV refers to a corresponding evaluation by the Joint Gambling Authority of the federal states (GGL) for the year 2024.
“Online, it’s 11:1 in favor of the black market and that puts players at risk. In the legal sports betting market, players benefit from guaranteed player protection, reliable payouts and tax revenue for the common good. Illegal providers in the black market, on the other hand, do not adhere to any rules, offer no security and have a higher risk of gambling addiction,” Mathias Dahms, President of the German Sports Betting Association (DSWV), said.
With the start of the UEFA Champions League, the second most-bet competition in Germany after the Bundesliga, the volume of betting has skyrocketed.
“Players need to be particularly vigilant at this time of year so that they don’t accidentally end up with illegal providers. This is another reason why it is important that the legal providers are present with perimeter boards and TV advertising during the Champions League matches,” Dahms said.
What many players do not know is that they are not only taking a higher risk, but are also liable to prosecution. Participating in unauthorized sports betting can result in a prison sentence of up to six months or a fine.
How to recognise legal betting providers:
• Only legal providers may advertise on stadium boards and on television during sporting events such as the Champions League or Bundesliga.
• Only providers on the GGL whitelist are legal in Germany. The list is publicly available at www.gluecksspiel-behoerde.de/whitelist.
• Legal providers have a clearly visible GGL permit logo on their website.
• Only legal providers offer comprehensive player protection measures such as deposit limits, player bans and monitoring of conspicuous gaming behavior.
• Only legal providers contribute to the funding of support services for gamblers at risk of gambling addiction, such as the anonymous and free hotline 0800-1372700 or the website check-dein-spiel.de of the Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG).
• With legal providers, payouts are guaranteed and the stakes are properly taxed.
“It is in the common interest of regulators, providers and players to strengthen the legal market and push back the black market. This is the only way to ensure player protection, integrity and tax revenues,” Dahms said.
The post German Betting Association Warns of Rise of Black Market Gambling appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
eSports6 days agoFinland’s Esports Betting Gets a Lift Through Oddin.gg and Veikkaus Partnership
-
Australia6 days ago
Entain’s Andrew Vouris to Speak at Regulating the Game 2026
-
California6 days agoCalifornia Gambling Control Commission Issues New Precedential Decision on Licensing Requirements
-
Compliance Updates6 days ago
Football Season Kicks Off: Arizona Department of Gaming Warns of Gambling Scams and Highlights Consumer Protection Tools
-
Compliance Updates5 days ago
Ukraine’s PlayCity Begins Issuing Licenses to Gambling Operators
-
Balkans5 days ago
CT Interactive Partners with Mr Bit, Strengthening Position in Bosnia and Herzegovina
-
Arizona Department of Gaming6 days ago
Arizona Department of Gaming Issues Cease-and-Desists on “Phoenix Dream Home Sweepstakes”
-
EveryMatrix Press Releases6 days ago
SlotMatrix unleashes the wild riches of 20 Armadillos
