Greece Moves to Arm Gambling Regulator With Police-Style Powers in Crackdown on Black Market Betting
Nearly 800,000 people in Greece are estimated to have used illegal gambling services in a single year. That figure has become a central justification for one of the country’s most aggressive regulatory interventions in recent memory.
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The Greek government has formally presented legislation that would significantly strengthen the powers of the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP), giving the regulator broader authority to investigate, disrupt and punish illegal gambling operations. The measures form part of a wider effort by the Ministry of National Economy and Finance to curb a black market that officials believe is costing the state hundreds of millions of euros annually.
The bill, titled Regulations for the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) and Improvements to the Gaming Framework, was submitted to Parliament on Wednesday and opens a consultation period running until 15 June before lawmakers consider its final form.
Illegal Gambling Moves Up the Political Agenda
The legislation follows a campaign launched earlier this year by Economic Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis, who identified illegal gambling as both an economic threat and a source of substantial tax leakage.
Government estimates place the value of unlicensed gambling activity between €1.6bn and €2bn annually. Officials calculate that the state is losing roughly €600m in tax revenue as a result.
Rather than treating the issue solely as a regulatory challenge, ministers have increasingly framed illegal gambling as a form of organised economic crime. The government has repeatedly argued that modern black-market operators function through international networks that use digital platforms, online payments and sophisticated marketing systems to reach consumers beyond the reach of conventional enforcement tools.
That shift in thinking is reflected throughout the draft legislation.
Regulator Set for Largest Expansion in Years
At the centre of the reforms sits a substantially enlarged EEEP.
The regulator’s permanent workforce would increase from 80 to 110 positions, with recruitment concentrated in specialist areas linked to enforcement and intelligence gathering. New hires are expected to include cybersecurity experts, information technology specialists, analysts and investigators tasked with monitoring illegal gambling activity across digital channels.
Officials believe the existing structure is no longer sufficient to address the scale and complexity of the black market.
Beyond enforcement, the commission would also receive a broader policy role. The legislation expands its responsibilities in responsible gambling programmes, research initiatives and the development of national strategies intended to reduce participation in unlicensed gambling.
The government appears keen to position the regulator not only as an enforcement body but also as the primary institution shaping gambling policy and consumer protection efforts.
Broader Powers to Shut Down Illegal Operations
The bill grants the EEEP considerably wider authority to intervene against unlicensed operators.
Among the proposed powers is the ability to identify and seek the immediate removal of illegal gambling content, websites and associated online accounts. Existing mechanisms used to blacklist operators would be strengthened, while authorities would gain additional tools to restrict domain access and disrupt online services targeting Greek consumers.
The Gaming Inspectors Corps is also slated for a significant upgrade.
Inspectors would receive the status of special investigative officers, allowing them to launch criminal investigations and cooperate directly with law-enforcement agencies during enforcement actions.
Physical locations facilitating illegal gambling would face increased scrutiny as well. Both the EEEP and inspectors would gain authority to order the closure and sealing of premises found to be operating unlawfully. Businesses could face shutdowns lasting up to one year, with operating licences revoked in more serious cases.
Advertising Networks and Online Promoters Draw Attention
The government’s focus extends beyond gambling operators themselves.
Internet service providers, advertisers and other third parties found to be facilitating illegal gambling activity would become directly exposed to penalties. Financial sanctions could range from €1,000 to €2m per violation, depending on the nature and scale of the offence.
The draft legislation also takes aim at the promotional infrastructure that helps illegal operators attract customers.
Influencers, streamers, affiliate marketers and digital advertising networks would face fines ranging from €5,000 to €50,000 for each infringement if found promoting unlicensed gambling services.
Licensed operators are not immune from the tougher framework. Serious or repeated breaches could result in temporary licence suspensions of up to three months, while the most severe cases may lead to permanent revocation.
Criminal Penalties Among the Harshest Proposed in Europe
The most striking provisions concern criminal sanctions.
Individuals found organising illegal gambling operations would face prison sentences of at least ten years, accompanied by financial penalties ranging from €50,000 to €700,000.
Punishments become even more severe when offences involve minors, occur on a professional scale or take place from premises that authorities had previously ordered closed. In those circumstances, fines could rise to €800,000 while maintaining a minimum prison sentence of ten years.
The legislation also targets smaller-scale unlawful activity. Individuals operating gambling services without the required licences would face prison terms beginning at one year, increasing to at least two years where games of chance are involved.
The proposals would place Greece among the countries imposing the most severe criminal consequences for illegal gambling activity in Europe.
Concerns Over Market Participation
The government’s intervention is being driven in part by figures published by the EEEP regarding consumer behaviour.
According to data cited by the regulator, 9.5% of Greece’s population—approximately 799,000 people—engaged with unlicensed gambling services at least once during 2024.
For regulators, the numbers point to a market operating at a scale that can no longer be treated as a peripheral issue. Officials argue that widespread participation undermines licensed operators, weakens consumer protections and creates opportunities for criminal organisations to expand their activities.
The legislation also includes an increase in taxation on winnings generated through online casino products, a measure designed to support the government’s broader strategy for reshaping the economics of the gambling sector.
Consultation Begins Before Parliamentary Vote
The draft law now enters a public consultation phase scheduled to conclude on 15 June.
Ministers retain the option to amend parts of the legislation before submitting a final version for parliamentary approval. If adopted largely in its current form, the reforms would mark the most significant expansion of Greece’s anti-illegal gambling framework in years and give the EEEP powers that extend well beyond traditional regulatory oversight.
Source: sbcnews.co.uk
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