Greece targets black market with sweeping gambling reform
Table of contents
- Greece’s Ministry of National Economy and Finance has opened a public consultation on a wide-ranging gambling bill, closing 15 June 2026.
- The proposed legislation would significantly expand the Hellenic Gaming Commission’s enforcement powers, with prison terms of up to 10 years for illegal gambling organisers.
- A revised tax structure on online gaming winnings is also included in the draft.
Greece’s Ministry of National Economy and Finance has launched a public consultation on a broad package of gambling law amendments, targeting the country’s black market and proposing changes to the taxation of online gaming winnings.
The draft bill is open for public submissions until 15 June 2026, after which the government may revise it before sending it to Parliament for a vote. The legislation covers a comprehensive range of reforms targeting illegal gambling and the strengthening of regulatory oversight.
The bill follows through on a commitment from Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Minister of National Economy and Finance, to fast-track measures against what he has described as a shadow gambling economy costing Greece an estimated €1.6bn to €2bn annually.
EEEP overhaul
At the heart of the reforms is a significant expansion of the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP). Under the proposed framework, the regulator would gain authority to demand that internet service providers and platform operators remove or block access to content that promotes, facilitates or advertises illegal gambling.
The EEEP would also see a substantial increase in its permanent workforce, with new recruits focused on IT, cybersecurity, intelligence gathering and enforcement. The Ministry has described illegal gambling as a sophisticated transnational threat requiring a dedicated enforcement structure capable of monitoring websites, tracking payment channels and identifying criminal networks.
The Gaming Inspectors Corps would also receive enhanced powers under the draft. Inspectors would gain a reinforced investigative role, supporting criminal proceedings alongside law enforcement in pursuing illegal gambling cases.
The bill additionally adds measures to restrict financial flows to unlicensed sites, targeting the payment channels that sustain the black market.
Penalties and enforcement
Internet service providers, advertisers and third parties that facilitate illegal gambling would become directly liable for penalties. Fines are proposed to vary based on the severity and frequency of the offence, up to €2m per violation.
Influencers, streamers, affiliate marketers and digital advertising networks found promoting unlicensed services would face administrative fines of €5,000 to €50,000 per infringement, according to the draft.
The bill also introduces criminal sanctions. Illegal gambling organisers face prison terms of up to 10 years and substantial financial penalties. In aggravated cases, such as operations involving minors, professionally run schemes, or activity at premises previously sealed by authorities, fines could reach as high as €800,000.
Pierrakakis said illegal gambling deprives the state of significant public revenue, undermines licensed businesses and exposes citizens, particularly young people, to environments with no consumer protection or transparency. He described the legislation as strengthening the country’s institutional defences.
New winnings tax
The draft also proposes a revised taxation structure for online gaming winnings.
According to EEEP data cited in supporting materials, around 799,000 Greek citizens, approximately 9.5% of the population, engaged in illegal gambling at least once in 2024. The shadow market’s annual turnover is estimated at €1.67bn, with the state losing a significant share of potential tax revenues as a result. Pierrakakis has cited annual tax losses of at least €500m.
The new structure would apply across online games of chance, with winnings up to a threshold exempt and higher bands subject to rates of 20% and 30% respectively. The precise thresholds will be confirmed in the final legislative text following consultation.
The consultation closes on 15 June 2026. If passed, the framework would place Greece among the stricter European jurisdictions on illegal gambling enforcement. For licensed operators active in the Greek market, the EEEP’s expanded powers and the revised winnings tax represent the most significant regulatory shift in several years.
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