The European Lotteries (EL) organized a meeting at the European Parliament that focused on the pressing matter of minor protection in the digital gambling realm within the European Union.
Namely, the European Lotteries (EL) brought together European policymakers, stakeholders, and industry representatives to address the growing challenges regarding minors in online gambling, and consequently, create a safer gambling environment for young adults.
This crucial discussion took place on the 5th of February 2025, and it focused on the ever-growing need for improved and universally recognized digital safeguards throughout the European Union.
Member of the European Parliament Tomislav Sokol, EEP Croatia, commented on the initiative, and while he praised the benefits brought by digital technologies, he also underlined the series of risks that they pose to the youth of the Union and said that future EU policies are key to ensure the safety of minors in the digital sphere.
While digital technologies bring benefits, they also contribute to significant risks minors face, such as youth mental health challenges, exposure to harmful content, addictive design features and exploitative online practices. The upcoming Parliament’s own initiative report on the protection of minors online stresses the importance of shaping future EU policies to ensure the safety and well-being of minors in the digital sphere.
Similarly, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski, EEP Poland and Vice-Chair of the Culture and Education Committee of the European Union added that the governing body is “fully committed” to ensuring that minors are safe in the digital realm, highlighting the need to enforce strict safety measures for their protection.
We are fully committed to ensuring the safety of young people and believe strict age verification and responsible marketing are key tools to effectively protect minors. I believe our discussions this week give us valuable recommendations for the future.
The gathering also pointed out a list of key regulator aspects, especially the function of the Digital Services Act (DSA) when it comes to platform accountabilities, as well as the upcoming Digital Fairness Act (DFA) in battling challenges such as addictive patterns and dark features.
Lastly, the European Lotteries and its members also suggested increasing the number of educational campaigns, as well as a list of technical solutions specifically created to safeguard underage individuals from gambling and the risks that follow.
