By Diana Guerrero, journalist at G&M News.
Europe is entering a new stage in responsible gambling, where technology is not only used to enhance the user experience but also to identify risk signals and activate protection measures earlier.
One of the most relevant advances in 2026 was the publication of the European standard EN 18144 on markers of harm, released on May 31st by national standardization bodies linked to the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). The initiative established a voluntary reference to help operators identify behaviors associated with risky gambling patterns.
The standard was initially promoted by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) in 2022 and developed with the participation of operators, national authorities, academics, and specialists in gambling harm prevention. According to EGBA, its members committed to aligning their player protection systems with this standard across their European operations.
One of EN 18144’s main contributions is the definition of nine behavioral markers that can help operators recognize risk patterns before they intensify. These include changes in betting volume or frequency; speed or intensity of play; frequency, size, or failed deposits; withdrawals and canceled withdrawals; player-initiated contact; session length and playing times; use of multiple products; net losses or their evolution over time, and changes in protection tools such as deposit limits or self-exclusion.
The value of this approach lies in moving from an evaluation based solely on isolated behavior to a broader observation of variations in player activity.
TECHNOLOGY TO ANALYZE BEHAVIOR
At the same time, technological evolution is reshaping how operators can address responsible gambling. In digital environments, platforms generate large amounts of user activity data, enabling analysis of changes in behavioral patterns.
In this context, data analysis models and AI tools can help identify signals that require preventive intervention. EGBA has highlighted the potential of AI in recent years to strengthen identification mechanisms, player protection, and fraud prevention.
The development of these tools also enables more personalized interventions. Data-driven systems can analyze different behavioral variables and help determine when it is necessary to present information, reminders, or responsible gambling tools to the user.
However, technology does not replace regulation or operator responsibility. The goal is to use it as a complementary tool within protection frameworks that include limits, self-exclusion, identity verification, and other compliance measures.
PREVENTION AND PROTECTION MEASURES
One of the most important changes in this evolution is the shift from a reactive logic to a preventive one. EN 18144 seeks precisely to establish a common language for these signals. By having a shared reference, operators and other industry stakeholders can work with more consistent criteria, although concrete implementation will still depend on the rules and conditions of each national market. EGBA emphasizes that, as a voluntary standard, its application must be complemented by existing regulatory frameworks and may vary according to national legislation.
This technological transformation will also be accompanied by awareness initiatives aimed at both the industry and consumers, such as the European Safer Gambling Week 2026 (November 16-22nd), organized by EGBA.
The publication of EN 18144 reflects a broader trend in the European market: the search for common mechanisms to identify risk signals and use technology as support for player protection.