Council of Europe Group meets to tackle youth risks from online gambling and gaming

The Council of Europe has held the fifth meeting of its Technical Support Instrument (TSI) Advisory Group for the project “Promoting the mental health of children and youth by addressing the risks of online gambling and gaming.”

The session took place on February 2nd, 2026, and brought together representatives from eight participating EU member states – Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, and Slovenia – along with observers from Bulgaria, Denmark, and Spain.

Delegates discussed the project’s 2026 work plan during the meeting, which included feasibility studies to assist each nation in selecting and implementing national best practices.

With an emphasis on the effects of online gaming and gambling on children and youth, participants also provided updates on new laws and policies aimed at combating digital addictions.

The Advisory Group reviewed three major project deliverables developed over the first phase of the initiative.

These included a situation analysis report summarising current national responses to online gambling and gaming risks for children and youth. Moreover, there was a review of international good practices and a blueprint communication strategy designed to support public awareness campaigns targeting young people and their families.

In addition, an expert technical paper was presented that sets out recommendations to improve how countries collect data on youth exposure to online gambling and gaming.

The proposed methodologies aim to help member states gather more consistent and comparable data, giving policymakers a stronger evidence base for future regulation and prevention measures.

The goal is to better understand patterns of use, harm indicators and emerging trends so that interventions can be tailored more precisely to the needs of children and adolescents. The project is co-funded by the European Union through the Technical Support Instrument and implemented by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the European Commission.

It runs for two years and is designed to support national authorities in developing policies, tools, and awareness strategies to reduce online gambling and gaming risks among young people.