Player Protection Summit 2025 Concludes in Vienna with Industry-Wide Call for Proactive Compliance

The Player Protection Summit 2025 concluded its second day at the Hilton Vienna Park, drawing operators, regulators, compliance leaders and policy specialists for discussions centered on safer gambling practices and regulatory compliance. The event built on momentum from the previous evening’s networking session, with attendees focused on bridging the gap between policy frameworks and operational realities.

Opening Sessions Set Regulatory Context

Event Chairperson Šimon Vincze of Casino Guru opened proceedings by calling for increased industry cooperation and evidence-led strategies as regulatory landscapes continue to evolve across European markets. The opening keynote from Knut Walter of Deutsche Stiftung Glücksspielforschung examined global policy trends, presenting comparative analysis on how cultural and market-specific factors influence the effectiveness of responsible gambling frameworks.

An early session moderated by Luís Portela de Carvalho of Lektou featured Kevin Rieger of Bernstein Group and Knut Walter discussing the divide between regulatory ambition and practical implementation. The session generated notable audience participation, with attendees raising questions about operational challenges.

“The event was excellent – the quality of the speakers was consistently high, and it was particularly rewarding to see genuine audience engagement, with attendees actively participating and asking questions during the sessions. What stood out most were the discussions around how policies and regulations should evolve by drawing on both scientific evidence and the practical experience of industry stakeholders – a balance that is often talked about but rarely explored with such depth,” Portela de Carvalho said.

Profitability and Protection Balance Examined

A discussion between Vincze and Lars Westhoff of Westhoff Van Namen Law Firm addressed how operators can maintain profitability while implementing robust player-protection practices. The conversation covered internal governance structures, escalation pathways and the expanding strategic role of compliance in commercial decision-making.

Vincze presented data on offshore online casino supply and demand, using comparative analysis to highlight where regulated markets succeed, where gaps exist, and factors driving players toward unlicensed operators. The presentation underscored the importance of creating regulatory frameworks that are both protective and commercially viable to retain players within legal channels.

Interactive Risk Modeling Session Draws Engagement

Greg Papanastasiou of Play North Ltd delivered one of the summit’s most discussed sessions on risk models and player behavior. Instead of a traditional presentation format, Papanastasiou created an interactive environment by asking delegates to stand or sit in response to statements about intervention timing, affordability concerns and duty-of-care triggers. The approach generated candid discussion and provided real-time insight into collective industry sentiment on behavioral data applications.

“I found the presentations and discussions extremely insightful. You could see the expertise all participants brought to the room, allowing us to learn from best practices in different jurisdictions. Thank you to all speakers and participants,” Rieger commented.

Afternoon Sessions Focus on Compliance and Customer Relationships

The afternoon program featured Odelia Alexandrovich of Life Architecture, who explored how emotional design, values and long-term trust contribute to sustainable customer relationships. Her presentation added a customer-centered perspective to the day’s data-focused discussions.

A panel moderated by Portela de Carvalho brought together Antony Jordan of ODDSET and Jochen Biewer of Chevron Group for discussion on compliance priorities for 2026, including the growing role of automation and technology in operational efficiency.

“It was a pleasure to speak on the Future-Proof Your Business: Essential iGaming Compliance Strategies for 2026 panel with Luis and Jochen. Many excellent insights were shared on the topics of being more efficient and compliant in the areas of Responsible Gaming and Customer Verification, and – even as a panellist – I learned how much influence AI will have in making these changes a reality,” Jordan said.

Sessions on responsible marketing, segmentation and ethical messaging led by Inga Varno-Baloglu of OlyBet and Papanastasiou drew practical questions from attendees about implementing collaborative approaches to player protection.

Closing Panel Addresses Financial Risk Assessment

The final panel, moderated by Biewer and featuring Bernd Henning of iGamingConsult.com and Nikolas Lotz of MGT GmbH, addressed financial risk checks and the challenge of balancing proportionality with effective harm-prevention measures. Attendees engaged actively on affordability assessments, reflecting the complexity of implementing such measures across European markets.

“In a room full of practitioners who understand the realities of safer gambling, it was refreshing to see honest discussion around what truly works, what still needs to evolve and how collaboration can drive more effective outcomes. Sessions like these move the industry forward,” Varno-Baloglu said.

Vincze closed the formal program by drawing together the day’s central themes, calling on the industry to move ahead of regulatory pressure rather than react to enforcement.

“Today’s event showed that coming towards a sustainable model of operations proactively is inevitable; otherwise, it will be enforced by regulation, which can cause unintended consequences. In this sense, proactive protection is not a moral obligation, but a commercial one,” Vincze stated.

Discussions continued during the farewell reception, with attendees from the Player Protection Summit, iGaming DACH Summit and Lottery CX Summit networking late into the evening. The conclusion of the three-event series marked a significant gathering for European gambling industry stakeholders focused on safer gambling practices and regulatory compliance.

Source: Eventus International