What are 'harm markers' in the context of player behavior?

The European community has taken another step towards forming a unified approach to protecting players and reducing the harm caused by gambling. The decision of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) to support the initiative to introduce national standardization of gambling harm markers was an important event not only for the gambling industry, but also for the entire player protection system. This is a new and important step that can give real meaning to the principles of responsible gaming.

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), which has long advocated for the harmonization of standards in the gambling industry, welcomed the decision to introduce a unified standard. The standard was adopted on September 25 during a voting session held by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). For the EGBA, this decision confirms that years of cooperation between governments, researchers, businesses, and standardization bodies can lead to concrete results. Importantly, the introduction of a common standard is not merely a technical solution — it sends a clear signal to the market, demonstrating a shared commitment to combating gambling addiction and strengthening the protection of players’ rights.

A harm marker is a tool used to identify risky player behavior and help prevent the development of gambling addiction. These indicators may consider factors such as betting frequency, changes in spending, emotional fluctuations, or late-night activity.

Thanks to standardization, these indicators will now be unified across all EU member states, enabling operators to better monitor risky behavior and respond promptly, while also allowing regulators to more effectively oversee the operations of gambling companies.

The development of the standard took several years and brought together experts from diverse fields — ranging from psychology to information technology. The French standardization body, AFNOR, played a key role in this process by coordinating joint efforts with CEN. Although the standard was developed from a scientific perspective, it has proven to be highly practical, thanks to the analysis of best practices from leading gambling operators across the European market. This initiative marks a significant milestone for the future of the gambling industry. For the first time in Europe, a coordinated document will define common principles for identifying risks and preventing potential harm.

The standard is expected to receive official approval in early 2026. While its adoption will be voluntary, experts anticipate that most operators will join the initiative — not only due to reputational considerations but also out of a desire to foster a more stable regulatory environment with clear, consistent rules for all market participants.

In the long term, the introduction of standardized harm markers could lay the foundation for a pan-European system to monitor gaming behavior. Such a system would support the early identification of at-risk players while also enabling the collection of valuable data for research and future policy development in the field of responsible gaming.

The European approach to standardization demonstrates that gambling regulation can be both flexible and humane, placing the safety and dignity of players at its core. This is precisely the kind of approach — rooted in systemic understanding and long-term vision — that Ukraine should strive to adopt. I sincerely hope Ukraine will take note of this important standard.