The European online gambling market is undergoing a significant transformation. Regulators and industry bodies are increasingly collaborating across borders to create a safer, more transparent ecosystem. This comes as operators continue to market into multiple jurisdictions, sometimes without proper licensing, which has raised concerns for players and authorities alike.
Coinciding with this, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has recently celebrated a milestone. The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has approved a draft standard to identify and prevent risky gambling behaviors. This marks the first time countries across Europe are moving toward a unified approach to player protection.
Cross-Border Cooperation
A major focus of this transformation is cross-border regulatory collaboration. Authorities from Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and other European countries are sharing intelligence on suspicious platforms, coordinating enforcement, and targeting operators who advertise without proper licenses. By working together, they can track offshore operators, respond more quickly to illegal activity, and remove unlawful advertising from social media and digital channels.
This coordinated oversight directly benefits players, who now have clearer visibility into which platforms are licensed and trustworthy. Independent review sites and comparison tools consolidate information on licensing status, security protocols, and responsible gambling measures, making it easier for users to differentiate legitimate operators from risky or unregulated platforms.
The Europe-Wide Standard for Safer Play
While cross-border enforcement improves market integrity, the new CEN standard offers a Europe-wide framework for harm prevention. Developed with input from regulators, academics, operators, and harm-prevention experts, the standard provides a consistent playbook for spotting risky gambling behavior and intervening early. EGBA’s Vasiliki Panousi described it as an essential building block for effective harm prevention in Europe, emphasizing the value of collaboration and shared expertise.
The standard has broad support from national standardization bodies and is expected to be finalized in early 2026. Once adopted, it will guide operators and regulators in implementing consistent safeguards, improving transparency, and helping players make safer, more informed choices. EGBA Secretary General Maarten Haijer called the approval a huge moment for the sector, highlighting the power of collaboration to strengthen trust and accountability across Europe.
