Greece has introduced legislation designed to strengthen the country’s response to illegal gambling networks, with authorities seeking expanded powers to pursue operators, advertisers and other facilitators linked to unlicensed gambling activities.
The proposed reforms form part of a broader strategy presented by Minister of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis, who outlined a framework aimed at protecting public revenues and improving oversight of the gambling market. The draft bill introduces measures described as “interventions required to strengthen the Greek state and economy against the threats of black market gambling”.
Presenting the initiative, Pierrakakis said: “Illegal gambling deprives the Greek state of significant public revenue, undermines licensed businesses and exposes citizens – especially young people – to environments without protection or transparency. This intervention strengthens the institutional shield of the country.”
Official figures indicate that the scale of unlicensed gambling remains substantial. Government estimates suggest nearly 800,000 individuals participated in illegal gambling activities in 2024. Transactions linked to the illicit sector generated roughly €1.67bn in turnover and resulted in around €400m in lost state revenue during the same period.
“This is not only a fiscal issue,” Pierrakakis emphasised. “It is primarily a matter of protecting citizens from unregulated environments where winnings may not be paid and no responsible gaming safeguards exist.”
Expanded Enforcement Powers for Greek Regulator
Under the draft legislation, enforcement mechanisms would undergo significant restructuring. Authorities plan to consolidate prevention, detection and prosecution procedures into a coordinated system designed to address illegal gambling operations more efficiently.
The Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) would receive additional staffing resources as part of the reform. Its workforce would grow from 80 to 110 positions, including 40 specialised roles focused on technical oversight. These new roles would concentrate on areas such as digital monitoring, data analytics and intelligence gathering related to the gambling market.
“We are equipping the regulator with the expertise and human resources necessary to respond to a technologically complex and rapidly evolving market,” Pierrakakis explained, adding that enforcement must become “data-driven and proactive, not reactive.”
Members of the Gaming Inspectors’ Body would also gain expanded authority. Inspectors would receive investigative officer status, enabling them to open criminal pre-investigations, collect evidence and forward cases directly to prosecutors without additional procedural steps.
According to Pierrakakis, this framework ensures that “where criminal indications exist, the state will move immediately and decisively.”
Another central component of the reform concerns digital enforcement capabilities. The EEEP would gain authority to order the removal or restriction of illegal gambling content through a fast administrative process targeting websites, hosting services, search engines and social media platforms. Authorities could take these actions without prior approval from law enforcement agencies.
“Illegal gambling today operates primarily through digital channels,” Pierrakakis noted. “The state must therefore have the capacity to intervene digitally and without delay. We are not waiting for procedural bottlenecks when consumer protection is at stake.”
The regulator would also be able to request identification details related to accounts or domains associated with illegal gambling operations. A new automated blacklist would expand existing records to include both websites and individuals or companies connected to their operation or promotion.
New Penalties Target Operators and Promoters
The legislation introduces administrative penalties for advertising or promoting illegal gambling services. Media outlets, influencers, streamers, affiliate marketers and digital advertising networks that promote unlicensed operators could face fines ranging from €5,000 to €50,000 for each violation.
Pierrakakis stressed that “every form of commercial communication in the gambling sector must concern exclusively legally licensed providers. There can be no tolerance for the promotion of illegal activity through digital networks or influencers”.
Criminal sanctions related to illegal gambling would also be revised. Authorities propose a two-tier system designed to address previous cases where courts reduced penalties under existing rules.
Operating illegal gambling businesses would carry a minimum prison sentence of three years alongside fines between €10,000 and €500,000. More serious offences could lead to at least 10 years in prison and fines ranging from €50,000 to €700,000. Cases involving professional criminal activity or the participation of minors could result in penalties reaching €800,000.
“We are introducing a proportionate but strict framework,” the Minister said. “Penalties must be applicable in practice, but they must also be severe when vulnerable citizens or minors are exposed.”
Research from the Hellenic Gaming Commission highlights the influence of online promotion in the illegal market. A 2025 study found that 10% of respondents who used illegal gambling platforms discovered them through influencers.
Focus Remains on Supply-Side Enforcement
Despite the tougher approach toward operators and promoters, the draft legislation does not currently impose penalties on consumers who participate in illegal gambling. Earlier discussions had raised the possibility of introducing sanctions for players, though the bill presented to cabinet focuses on dismantling the supply side of illegal networks.
Government officials indicated that “the current priority is dismantling the supply side of illegal gambling networks”. Debate in parliament may still address whether consumer liability should become part of the legal framework in the future.
Beyond enforcement actions, the government plans to introduce additional regulatory changes affecting the land-based casino sector during 2026. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis authorised a review of casino licensing and permit structures to reinforce compliance requirements and enhance the economic contribution of licensed venues.
“Our goal is a well-regulated, transparent gambling market that contributes substantially to growth and public revenue,” Pierrakakis concluded. “Suppressing the black market and strengthening the licensed sector are two sides of the same strategy.”
Authorities expect the proposed framework to position Greece at the forefront of enforcement initiatives targeting illegal gambling across the European Union. Pierrakakis has described the reforms as a legislative approach that would address unlicensed gambling by “elevating illegal gambling from a compliance concern to a matter of economic security and digital governance”.
Source:
Greece tables direct enforcement bill against black market gambling, sbcnews.co.uk, March 2, 2026.
