European Safer Gambling Week starts on 16 November with player protection in focus
European Safer Gambling Week 2026 begins next week, running from 16 to 22 November. Organized by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), the initiative will bring together industry representatives, regulators, researchers and support organizations under the theme “Play Smart, Stay Protected”. The programme includes six free webinars, events across Europe and a coordinated social media campaign.
One of the key topics will be the early identification of risky gambling behavior. The webinar “Spotting the Signs: Detecting Risky Play” takes place on Wednesday, 18 November, from 11:00 to 12:00 CET.
The discussion will examine how risky play appears in player behavior and activity data, and how early warning signs can realistically be identified. Experts will explore how standards and regulation can make detection more accurate and consistent, alongside the growing role of technology and artificial intelligence in identifying risk sooner.
The speakers will include Dr Michael Auer, Director at Neccton; Karim Chikh, Co-founder and CEO of Integrity Analytics; Simo Dragicevic, Co-founder of AiR Hub at the UNLV International Gaming Institute; and Marian Mihaila, Head of Responsible Gaming at Super. Dr Maris Catania, Director of Player Sustainability at LeoVegas, will moderate the session.
The webinar is free to attend, and registration is open.
EGBA’s wider programme will also address young people’s experiences online, communication with players when risk is detected, and the day-to-day work of safer gambling teams. All times below are in Central European Time (CET):
| Date | Time | Webinar |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, 16 November | 11:00–11:30 | Welcome to European Safer Gambling Week 2026: Play Smart, Stay Protected |
| Tuesday, 17 November | 11:00–12:00 | Growing up online: young people, gambling and gaming |
| Wednesday, 18 November | 11:00–12:00 | Spotting the signs: detecting risky play |
| Thursday, 19 November | 11:00–12:00 | From detection to action: getting players to respond |
| Thursday, 19 November | 15:00–16:00 | Beyond KYC: protecting players across the entire journey — co-hosted with Sumsub |
| Friday, 20 November | 11:00–12:00 | Behind the scenes: a day in the life of safer gambling teams |
Now in its sixth edition, the initiative highlights informed choices, access to player protection tools and the exchange of good practice. Its broader aim is to support a culture of player protection that extends beyond the campaign week.
Further information about events and participation is available at safergambling.eu. Participants can follow and contribute to the conversation on social media using #ESGW26.
Bulgaria
Poland
