Greece ramps up enforcement against illegal gambling
Table of contents
- Greece targets €400 million annual revenue loss from unlicensed gambling operations.
- New legislation introduces prison terms up to ten years and fines reaching €800,000.
- Influencers promoting illegal sites face penalties up to €50,000 under proposed framework.
Greece has introduced stringent legislation aimed at suppressing an illegal gambling market that cost the state an estimated €400 million in lost revenue last year, according to local media reports.
The Hellenic Gaming Commission estimates nearly 800,000 citizens participated in unlicensed gambling activities during 2024.
Penalties target operators and promoters
Draft legislation presented to the Cabinet by Minister of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis introduces a two-tier criminal framework.
Organisers of unlicensed gambling operations face prison terms of up to ten years alongside fines ranging from €50,000 to €700,000. In aggravated cases involving professional-scale activity or the participation of minors, financial penalties can reach €800,000.
Advertisers and social media influencers who promote illegal platforms may face fines of up to €50,000 per violation. Influencers have been cited as a key route to illegal gambling websites in recent studies by the Hellenic Gaming Commission.
The legislation does not introduce criminal sanctions for consumers who participate in illegal gambling. Government sources indicated that the current priority focuses on dismantling the supply side of unlawful networks.
AI-driven monitoring of domains
The regulator is deploying artificial intelligence systems designed to detect and block unlawful gambling domains. Over the past three years, authorities have identified thousands of illegal websites.
Recent enforcement actions blocked approximately 11,000 domains.
The expanded blacklist will include information on individuals and legal entities that organise, conduct or promote unlawful gambling activities. It will also record violations and imposed sanctions.
Government data released in August 2025 estimated that unlicensed gambling wagers totalled approximately €1.67 billion in 2024. The figure represents roughly 9.5% of the population.
Average illegal spend per participant stood near €2,089 (derived from €1.67 billion wagers divided by approximately 799,000 participants).
Regulatory coordination with public health
Regulators are coordinating with national health authorities to strengthen responsible gambling measures and reduce addiction risk. The approach links enforcement strategy with public health initiatives.
The draft law also restores authority for immediate administrative sealing of premises where operators conduct gambling without required licences or certification. This power was repealed in 2014.
Municipalities may revoke operating licences when authorities confirm illegal gambling activity. The provision prevents repeat violations under new ownership or business structures.
Staffing expansion supports enforcement
The legislation increases the Hellenic Gaming Commission’s staffing from 80 to 110 permanent positions. The new structure includes 70 administrative roles and 40 specialised scientific positions focused on gambling oversight, data analysis and digital monitoring.
Members of the Gaming Inspectors Corps will gain special investigative officer status when audits uncover evidence of criminal offences. This allows them to collect evidence, compile case files and submit them directly to prosecutors.
The reforms position Greece among the first European Union states with a comprehensive horizontal framework against illegal gambling. The legislation clearly separates administrative from criminal sanctions and provides uniform treatment whether offences occur online or in physical venues.
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