UGC: Harm indicators - how the EU Is shaping a new culture of responsible gaming?

The initiative, which has been in the works for several years, has now received political and professional approval: on September 25, the majority of national standardization bodies of EU member states agreed on the need to implement this approach. This decision has far-reaching implications not only for market operators but also for the very understanding of responsible gaming in Europe.

A single standard — a common language for the industry

Harm markers are behavioral indicators that help identify risky patterns among players: a sharp increase in bets, nighttime activity, emotional swings, or changes in financial habits.

Previously, each operator analyzed this data at their own discretion, but the new standard aims to unify the methodology for collecting and evaluating such signals. This means that, for the first time in Europe, there will be a unified early warning system for the development of gambling addiction.

For the EGBA, this decision is the culmination of many years of work. The association’s Secretary General, Maarten Haijer, emphasized: “This result demonstrates what can be achieved when industry, science, and regulators work together to protect players.”

The project was led by Dr. Maris Catania and coordinated by the French standardization body AFNOR. Dozens of experts from across Europe, ranging from psychologists to data analysts, participated in the process.

Why this is important for Ukraine

Although the standard will be voluntary, most EU operators are expected to implement it. After all, social responsibility in modern gambling regulation is not an optional requirement but a matter of market confidence.

This experience is particularly valuable for Ukraine, which continues to reform the industry. The approaches currently being implemented in Europe can serve as a guide for creating an online monitoring system that truly protects players, rather than merely complying with the letter of the law.

The European approach reminds us that harm prevention is not a repressive policy but a culture of responsibility. It starts with honest data, uniform rules, and the understanding that the main value of the market is not profit but human safety.

The standard is expected to be officially approved in early 2026, and this moment could become the starting point for a new phase in European gambling policy — a policy where technology, ethics, and regulation work as a single system.