Greece Moves to Dismantle €1.6bn Illegal Betting Market
ATHENS, GREECE – Greek authorities have introduced sweeping legislation to combat a rapidly expanding illegal betting market estimated at more than €1.6 billion annually.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The crackdown could reshape the country’s gambling landscape, forcing offshore operators out while steering players toward licensed platforms.
Recent official figures show that nearly 800,000 people placed wagers on unregulated websites or visited unauthorized facilities over the past year. The underground market is believed to exceed €1 billion in lost revenue each year, depriving licensed operators and the state of significant tax income.
Finance Minister Presents New Bill
Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis presented the proposed legislation to parliament this week, describing it as a decisive step to eliminate illegal betting networks. The draft law aims to block unlicensed operators, strengthen enforcement tools, and demand stricter compliance from all gambling businesses operating in Greece.
The bill targets both physical gambling dens and digital platforms. Authorities say the objective is not only to recover lost tax revenue but also to protect vulnerable citizens from high-risk offshore sites that operate outside regulatory oversight.
Prison Sentences and Heavy Fines
Under the proposed framework, individuals running unlicensed gambling operations would face criminal prosecution, including possible prison sentences. Courts would be empowered to impose significant financial penalties and permanently shut down offending businesses.
Law enforcement agencies would gain broader authority to seize illicit profits and conduct coordinated raids in major cities. Officials argue that tougher sanctions are necessary to deter repeat offenders and dismantle networks that have flourished in regulatory grey areas.
For operators, the message is clear: failure to comply with national licensing rules will carry serious legal and financial consequences.
More Regulation
Expanding the Blacklist
The Hellenic Gaming Commission, known locally as EEEP, already maintains a blacklist of nearly 11,000 illegal gambling websites. Investigators monitor online activity daily, identifying new platforms that attempt to reach Greek players.
The new legislation would give regulators stronger powers to block access to these sites and act more swiftly against emerging operators. Officials believe that expanding enforcement capabilities will make Greece a far less attractive market for offshore betting companies.
Consumer Protection at the Core
Government representatives insist that the reform is not solely about tax recovery. Unlicensed websites frequently operate without responsible gaming safeguards, leaving players exposed to data misuse and unpaid winnings.
Licensed operators in Greece are required to implement strict responsible gambling measures, including betting limits and self-exclusion options. Directing consumers toward regulated platforms is seen as a way to reduce harm and offer legal recourse when disputes arise.
As Greece joins other European countries intensifying enforcement against illegal betting, policymakers argue that decisive action is necessary to restore order to the market. For the nearly 800,000 citizens who turned to unregulated platforms last year, the government hopes the new framework will provide a safer and more transparent alternative.
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