The Project is co-funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument, and implemented by the Council of Europe, in co-operation with the European Commission.

This European Union – Council of Europe Technical Support Instrument (TSI) project is expected to strengthen the capacity of national authorities in Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, and Slovenia to address the risks associated with online gambling and video gaming among children and youth. Implemented by the Council of Europe’s Human Rights and Justice Cooperation Department in cooperation with the European Commission Reform and Investment Task Force (SG Reform), the project focuses on the potentially harmful impact of online gambling and video gaming on young people’s mental health.  Online gaming platforms have become a popular arena for entertainment and social interaction among children and youth. While acknowledging the opportunities they offer as leisure activities, some of their potentially harmful impacts have also been well recognised. Online gambling is an age-restricted activity that presents distinct and potentially more serious risks and harms for children and youth. These concerns have prompted European countries to step up efforts in providing effective and evidence-informed prevention, treatment, and harm reduction services, in collaboration with academia and industry.

Online gambling and video gaming entail different types of risks for young people, with both contributing to mental health issues recognised by the World Health Organization as public health concerns.

Through this TSI project, participating member states are expected to enhance their responses to these risks by strengthening evidence-informed prevention, treatment and harm reduction approaches, in line with relevant European standards and national contexts.

The project aims to contribute to reform efforts of the eight beneficiary member states in designing and strengthening regulations, policies, and targeted measures to reduce the risks and harms associated with online gambling and video gaming, which particularly affect younger generations, thereby contributing to their wellbeing and improved mental health.

In this respect, it will provide national authorities with scientific information to support the design of targeted policies, as well as tools and strategies for implementing concrete actions in the fields of prevention, treatment, and harm reduction, including public awareness activities.

Addressing online gambling and video gaming will contribute to identifying actions to tackle other Internet use-related risks particularly relevant for the younger generations and to promoting a coordinated approach in a digital Europe.

Implementing partners:

European Union (SG REFORM), Croatian Institute of Public Health, Cyprus National Addictions Authority, Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic, the Ministry of Health of Hungary, the Ministry for Social Policy and the Family of Malta, the National Centre on Prevention of Addictions of Poland, the Portuguese Institute for Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies, and the Ministry of Health of Slovenia.

End Beneficiaries: 

Children and young persons who use online gambling and gaming platforms, as well as their parents.

The project’s outcomes will be pursued through a variety of activities, including the production of a situation analysis of current responses in Europe and globally, as well as of a report reviewing international good practices; the elaboration of a common toolbox of interventions; assistance in the drafting of national action plans and strategies or their review, as well as of communication strategies; public awareness actions; and the organisation of international exchanges to learn from each other’s experience and expertise. Other European Union and Council of Europe Member States will be invited into these exchanges.