The European Betting and Gaming Association (EGBA) released its 2024 Sustainability Report, detailing significant contributions to the European economy and highlighting advancements in responsible gambling practices.
## Financial Contributions and Responsible Gambling Initiatives
The report reveals that EGBA member operators contributed €3.8 billion (approximately $4.45 billion) to European economies in 2024. Furthermore, these operators allocated €148.9 million to research, education, and treatment (RET) initiatives focused on gambling-related harm. This represents a substantial 143% increase compared to the €49 million contributed in 2023.
The number of EGBA member customers grew to 38.6 million in 2024, a significant increase from 32.5 million in 2023. The demographic breakdown shows 75% of these customers are male, with 58% falling within the 18-35 age range.
A notable achievement is the widespread adoption of safety tools. Sixty-nine percent of EGBA member customers—26.7 million individuals—utilized these tools, a 28% year-over-year increase. The most popular tools were deposit limits (65% of users), followed by self-exclusion (12%) and time limits (11%). Younger demographics showed higher engagement with safety tools, with 21% of users aged 18-25, 28% aged 26-35, and 30% aged 36-50. EGBA members also sent a record 100 million safety-related messages to customers in 2024, a 64% increase compared to the previous year.
## Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility
The report also underscores the EGBA’s commitment to sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Member companies reduced their overall energy consumption by 11% in 2024, while simultaneously increasing their reliance on renewable energy sources from 64% in 2023 to 78% in 2024. Regarding workforce demographics, 57% of employees across EGBA member organizations were male and 43% female, reflecting the same gender distribution as in 2023. The majority of employees (71%) were aged between 26 and 50, with 16% falling within the 18-25 age bracket.
## Future Initiatives and Transparency
The report’s release follows the recent announcement of EGBA’s plan to revise its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) guidelines for all member operators by 2026. EGBA Secretary General Maarten Haijer stated, “In a year marked by both progress and challenges, EGBA members continue to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable business practices. This report…shows not just where we are, but how far we’ve come – and where we’re heading. We publish this report to support transparency and reinforce our culture of social responsibility. It tracks our yearly progress and demonstrates our accountability to all stakeholders.”
