The Player Protection Summit 2025 wrapped up its second day at the Hilton Vienna Park, bringing together operators, regulators, compliance specialists and policy experts for discussions on safer gambling implementation and regulatory frameworks. Following the previous evening’s networking reception, attendees engaged in sessions examining the practical application of player protection measures across European markets.
Policy Framework and Market Analysis Open Agenda
Šimon Vincze of Casino Guru opened the day’s program, emphasizing the need for industry cooperation and evidence-based approaches as regulatory environments develop across European jurisdictions. Knut Walter of Deutsche Stiftung Glücksspielforschung delivered the opening keynote, analyzing global policy developments and examining how regional market characteristics affect responsible gambling framework implementation.
A morning session moderated by Luís Portela de Carvalho of Lektou featured Kevin Rieger of Bernstein Group and Walter discussing the practical challenges of implementing regulatory requirements in day-to-day operations. The session drew active audience participation on operational compliance topics.
“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.
Commercial Viability and Player Protection Discussed
Vincze and Lars Westhoff of Westhoff Van Namen Law Firm examined how operators can balance commercial objectives with player protection requirements. The discussion covered governance structures, internal escalation processes and the evolving role of compliance teams in business strategy.
Vincze presented comparative data on offshore casino operations, analyzing where regulated markets retain player activity and where gaps drive users to unlicensed platforms. The analysis highlighted the commercial importance of creating regulatory frameworks that are both protective and competitive enough to keep players within licensed channels.
Behavioral Risk Modeling Session Generates Discussion
Greg Papanastasiou of Play North Ltd delivered an interactive session on risk modeling and player behavior patterns. Rather than using a standard presentation format, Papanastasiou asked delegates to respond physically to statements about intervention timing, affordability thresholds and duty-of-care protocols. The format generated real-time feedback on industry perspectives regarding behavioral data usage.
“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.
Technology and Automation in 2026 Compliance
The afternoon schedule included Odelia Alexandrovich of Life Architecture discussing customer relationship dynamics, focusing on emotional design principles and trust-building in long-term player relationships.
A panel moderated by Portela de Carvalho featured Antony Jordan of ODDSET and Jochen Biewer of Chevron Group examining compliance priorities for 2026, with particular focus on automation and technology integration in operational processes.
“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 led by Inga Varno-Baloglu of OlyBet and Papanastasiou addressed responsible marketing approaches, customer segmentation and ethical messaging standards, with attendees raising questions about collaborative industry initiatives for player protection.
Financial Risk Assessment Complexity Examined
The day’s final panel, moderated by Biewer with Bernd Henning of iGamingConsult.com and Nikolas Lotz of MGT GmbH, addressed financial risk checks and the challenge of implementing proportionate harm-prevention measures. Active audience engagement reflected ongoing debate around affordability assessment implementation across European jurisdictions.
“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 concluded the formal program by connecting the day’s discussions, emphasizing that proactive industry action on player protection represents both commercial necessity and regulatory preparation.
“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.
Conversations continued at the farewell reception, where participants from the Player Protection Summit, iGaming DACH Summit and Lottery CX Summit extended networking discussions into the evening. The three-event conclusion marked a significant Vienna gathering for European gambling industry professionals focused on regulatory compliance and safer gambling practices.
Source: Eventus International
