The 5^th TSI Advisory Group meeting of the project “Promoting the mental health of children and youth by addressing the risks of online gambling and gaming" took place on 2 February 2026, bringing together representatives of the eight participating EU member States – Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, and Slovenia – and three observer countries: Bulgaria, Denmark, and Spain. Representatives discussed 2026 plans, including feasibility assessments to guide national selection of good practices and shared updates on new digital addiction policies and regulations.

The Advisory Group also reviewed three key project deliverables: a situation analysis report on current responses to online gambling and gaming risks for children and youth; a review of international good practices; and a blueprint communication strategy to support awareness campaigns. Additionally, an expert developed Technical Paper was presented with recommendations to improve data collection on online gambling and gaming among youth.

These new methodologies are aimed to assist member States gather more consistent and comparable data, thus providing a stronger evidence base for policy and regulatory action to protect children and youth online.

The project “Promoting the mental health of children and youth by addressing the risks of online gambling and gaming” 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.