Running from November 18th to the 24th, the European Safer Gambling Week (ESGW24) is doubling down on promoting responsible gambling across the iGaming industry in Europe. Launched in 2021 by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), the initiative has brought together operators, regulators, and harm-prevention groups to oppose the growth of unregulated gambling markets and highlight the significance of player protection.

Coordinated by EGBA and supported by networks like the iGaming Executives Network (iGEN), ESGW24 features a packed agenda of events, including webinars, in-person seminars, and social media campaigns. In addition to educating players and stakeholders about the dangers of gambling and the resources available to reduce them, these initiatives aim to actively involve them.

What to Expect

The week’s activities aim to address challenges posed by unregulated markets, which lack player protection measures and fail to contribute to community or government revenues. Some of the key responsible gambling tools and initiatives that will be promoted during ESGW24 include:

  • Self-Exclusion: Players can voluntarily take a break from gambling by temporarily suspending their accounts.
  • Reality Checks: Pop-up reminders encourage players to step back during long gaming sessions.
  • Time and Deposit Limits: These customizable tools help players manage their spending and playing hours.
  • Permanent Account Closures: An option for players seeking to permanently disengage from gambling activities.
  • Credit Card Restrictions: Partnerships with financial institutions allow players to block gambling-related transactions.

Building on Previous Successes

According to EGBA’s 2023 Sustainability Report, over 65% of players now use safer gambling tools, marking a 14% year-on-year increase. In addition, operators sent a record 67.6 million player-protection messages, a 49% rise compared to the previous year, underscoring the sector’s proactive approach.

EGBA provides a suite of customizable campaign materials for operators to adapt to local markets, ensuring consistency and visibility across social media platforms. With striking visuals and clear messaging, the initiative underscores the importance of safer gambling practices.

As EGBA’s Secretary General, Maarten Haijer, notes, the regulated sector now offers an essential layer of safeguards that are quite necessary as the market grows. Regarding player safety and industry standards, Haijer said that Europe’s regulated internet gaming market has come a long way. He went on to say that they were pioneers in the movement to make sure millions of gamers could play games safely and responsibly while protecting vulnerable people. This, he said, stood in stark contrast to the unchecked black market, which, despite these initiatives, offered no safeguards and made no positive contributions to either communities or sports.