The Greek government recently announced a comprehensive plan to combat illegal gambling activities, aimed at strengthening the regulation and prosecution of unlicensed online and offline gambling operators. The Ministry of Economy and Finance has been tasked with establishing a new legal framework to investigate, shut down, and prosecute illegal gambling operators, maintaining the order of the legal market.
According to the plan, the government will immediately close down the detected illegal gambling venues, including internet cafes, private clubs, and underground casinos, while revoking the business licenses involved, and will bring criminal charges against anyone who obstructs inspections or assists in illegal gambling, with penalties that may include imprisonment.
In the field of online gambling, the government will introduce artificial intelligence monitoring systems and data analysis technologies to more efficiently detect illegal platform activities. At the same time, the Greek authorities plan to block over 11,000 blacklisted illegal websites through DNS filtering features, and cooperate with Greek banks to cross-check user account information, transaction records, and platform activity data to combat money laundering and illegal betting.
To prevent the public from mistakenly entering illegal platforms, the government will also strengthen educational campaigns to enhance public awareness of gambling risks and promote self-exclusion tools. Meanwhile, legal operators will receive tax incentives to encourage compliant operations and drive players away from unlicensed gambling channels. The proposal is expected to enter the public consultation phase in the fall.
Data shows that in 2024, about 800,000 Greeks are involved in illegal gambling, accounting for about 9.5% of the total population, most of whom are males aged 25 to 44. Among the participants, 390,000 people gamble online, 215,000 through offline venues, and 194,000 use both online and offline methods, with an average annual expenditure of about 1,934 euros per player. Minister of Finance and Economy Kyriakos Pirrakakis pointed out that unlicensed operations cause about 1 billion euros in losses each year, including about 500 million euros in tax losses, emphasizing, "The problem is not only financial but also a serious social issue."
To strengthen enforcement, the Greek Gambling Supervisory Authority (EEEP) has joined forces with the judicial and financial sectors to form a special task force dedicated to combating illegal gambling. EEEP Chairman Antonis Vatolomaios stated, "The illegal gambling ecosystem is complex and constantly evolving, success depends on the strength of law enforcement, and also relies on establishing a flexible, sustainable regulatory framework."
Meanwhile, the competition for the Greek national lottery tender is fierce, with current operators OPAP and IGT's subsidiary Brightstar both having submitted letters of intent, vying for at least a 10-year exclusive operation right of the national lottery. This tender covers major national lotteries, instant lotteries, housing lotteries, public lotteries, and special lottery projects issued by the European Lotteries Association (AELLE).
This move not only strengthens the crackdown on illegal gambling but also shows the Greek government's efforts to promote the development of the legal gambling industry through regulation and tendering, safeguarding national fiscal revenue and social benefits.
