The Greek government has introduced a major legislative package aimed at curbing the country’s growing black-market gambling sector, granting expanded powers to the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) and introducing tougher penalties for illegal operators and their promoters.
The reforms come as officials estimate that unlicensed gambling activity in Greece generates between €1.6bn and €2bn annually, depriving the state of roughly €600m in tax revenue. Authorities also estimate that nearly 800,000 people have engaged with illegal gambling services, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the regulated market.
Under the proposed legislation, the EEEP will significantly strengthen its enforcement capabilities. The regulator plans to expand its workforce with specialists in cybersecurity, intelligence gathering, market analysis and enforcement. The government also intends to increase cooperation with the Bank of Greece while introducing advanced monitoring tools, including AI-powered surveillance systems and DNS blocking measures targeting unlicensed gambling websites.
The bill also targets the marketing ecosystem that helps illegal operators attract players. Influencers, streamers, affiliate marketers, advertising networks and other promotional channels could face fines ranging from €5,000 to €50,000 for each instance of promoting unlicensed gambling services.
In addition, gaming inspectors would receive broader investigative powers, allowing them to launch criminal investigations directly and work more closely with law enforcement agencies. The government argues that illegal gambling has evolved into a sophisticated criminal activity that requires a dedicated enforcement structure capable of tracking digital operations, payment channels and organised networks.
Economic Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis has made the fight against illegal gambling a priority in 2026, describing the black market as both an economic threat and a source of significant tax losses. The government believes the new framework will provide regulators with the tools needed to protect consumers, support licensed operators and reduce the influence of unregulated gambling services across the country.