The Greek government, led by the Ministry of National Economy and Finance, has proposed a new strategy to combat illegal gambling in the country.
Under the proposed measures, illegal operators will face stricter penalties, which will affect both online casinos and land-based gambling establishments. Venues offering gambling without a licence will be shut down immediately, and those who obstruct inspections or facilitate illegal activity could face criminal charges.
It is noted that a special focus will be directed at the online gambling sector, as it has grown rapidly in recent years. At the centre of the fight against illegal gambling sites will be the use of modern technology. The main measures proposed:
- The government plans to introduce an AI-based monitoring system to track player behaviour and suspicious financial transactions.
- Increase the blocking of access to more than 11,000 illegal sites already blacklisted.
- Regulators will work with the Bank of Greece to track financial transactions related to unlicensed gambling.
- Raising players’ awareness of the risks associated with illegal gambling sites.
- Introducing tax incentives to support licensed operators.
According to recent research conducted by the Hellenic Gambling Enforcement Commission (EEEP) and Kapa Research, around 800,000 Greeks, or nearly 10% of the population played illegally in 2024.
EEEP President, Antonis Vartholomaios, said that the success of the fight against illegal gambling depends not only on enforcement measures, but also on the creation of appropriate legislation.
“We are confronting a complex, evolving criminal ecosystem. Success depends not only on enforcement, but also on creating a sustainable and adaptive legal framework,” Antonis said.
It is noted that the government plans to introduce the new bill in autumn 2025 to allow citizens, operators, and industry groups to comment before it is finalised. Officials believe that the new framework could be a turning point in Greece’s fight against illegal gambling, but admit that it will take a sustained effort to change player behaviour.
Regulators’ main goal now is to make the legal market more attractive and safer than illegal alternatives.
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