European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA)

Last updated: 2023-02-07

About our SID activities

As part of its commitment to contribute to safe online entertainment, EGBA recently published its second annual Sustainability Report which outlines the joint efforts and progress made by EGBA and its members to promote safe and sustainable online gambling and contribute positively to society in Europe, including social causes and sports. In this edition, the CEOs of EGBA member companies express their commitment to promote sustainable online gambling through a focus on safer gambling.

Included in the report are EGBA’s key sustainability highlights from the past year and data points from its members related to the use of safer gambling tools, the promotion of safer gambling, social contributions, support for European sport, as well as a section dedicated to social responsibility initiatives.

During Safer Internet Day, EGBA will share the report's findings on its social media channels. 

What we are doing to create a better internet…

EGBA and its members are investing heavily in a strong culture of safer online gambling. One of the key objectives for our organisation this past year has been to improve the understanding of problem gambling, particularly online. A study that EGBA mandated in 2022 found that knowledge and approaches to understanding problem gambling in Europe are still very fragmented, and a more common understanding and framework would be valuable. 

In early 2023, we were pleased to have an EGBA proposal approved by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) to enable all stakeholders to come together and jointly develop a European standard on markers of online gambling harm. Our members take industry responsibility seriously and have already worked with CEN to apply the self-regulatory measures of the CEN workshop agreement on responsible remote gambling measures. The workshop agreement includes many measures to protect minors, such as age verification and prominent age signposting on all their websites.

In addition, EGBA members apply a code of conduct for responsible advertising and commenced monitoring the code this past year. The first independent monitoring of the pan-European code found that it provides a solid basis for responsible advertising due to its comprehensive and detailed content - and EGBA members already correctly apply most of its measures. The code includes measures related to online and social media advertising and the protection of minors. 

EGBA has been leading industry cooperation on safer gambling and brings together 23 national trade bodies in Europe for joint industry actions, including the annual European Safer Gambling Week, which aims to raise awareness of safer online gambling in Europe.

Last year’s European Safer Gambling Week took place on 17-23 October, and we had many open, honest, and constructive conversations about safer online gambling during the week. It was the second year of the initiative, and we are delighted with the progress the initiative has already made. More stakeholders participated last year, more events were organised, and our members activated a social media campaign to share safer gambling messages to their social media audiences across Europe. There were 1.5m impressions of this content on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, a 400% increase from the first edition in 2021.

Through these efforts on safer gambling, EGBA aims to encourage meaningful cultural change in the online gambling sector. Our members are playing their part by working together to promote a strong culture of safe and sustainable gambling and to be transparent and accountable for their efforts. This cooperation culminated in the publication of EGBA's second annual Sustainability Report, which outlines the joint efforts and progress made by EGBA member companies to promote safer online gambling, protect their players, and contribute positively to European society.

Lastly, EGBA members use various digital tools to prevent minors from accessing online gambling, including electronic identification, age verification, and information exchange mechanisms. Underage gambling is prohibited by law in all member states, and stopping it - through strict ID verification measures - is at the forefront of our members' efforts to promote a safer internet. Regulation regarding ID verification differs from country to country. As a result, national law significantly impacts the types of technical solutions our members can apply. Where governmental or regulatory databases are not available to allow gambling companies to verify a customer's identity (e.g. age), our members cooperate with private database providers (third-party verification checks). Explicit training is provided to all employees involved in the operator's age verification process.

About us

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is the Brussels-based trade association representing the leading online gaming and betting operators established, licensed, and regulated within the EU, including bet365, Betsson Group, Entain, Flutter Entertainment, Kindred Group, and William Hill.

EGBA works together with national and EU regulatory authorities and other stakeholders towards a well-regulated and well-channelled online gambling market which provides a high level of consumer protection and takes into account the realities of the internet and online consumer demand.

EGBA member companies meet the highest regulatory standards and, in 2021, had 225 online gambling licenses to provide their services to 29,8 million customers across 21 different European countries. Currently, EGBA members account for 33% of Europe’s online gambling gross gaming revenue (GGR).

Additional links/resources

Website
www.egba.eu

Email address
egba@egba.eu

Contact name
Vasiliki Panousi

Contact email
egba@egba.eu

Social media