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Online casinos in Greece
Greece is one of the most mature and highly regulated gambling jurisdictions in Southern Europe.
Here, online and offline gambling is completely legalized, and control is carried out by an independent state body - the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC).
The Greek market combines transparency, technological development and sustainable taxation, making it attractive to leading international operators.
Legislative framework
Modern gambling regulation in Greece is based on the laws:- Law 4002/2011 - "On the regulation of gambling,"
- Law 4635/2019 - set new rules for online gambling,
- Ministerial Decision 79835/2020 - defined the procedure for obtaining licenses.
- gambling is permitted but requires a licence from HGC;
- offline and online segments are regulated according to a single standard;
- foreign companies can operate on a par with national ones when registering in Greece;
- participation of persons under 21 years of age is prohibited;
- there is a system for protecting players and monitoring operations.
HGC (Hellenic Gaming Commission) is responsible for licensing, auditing, protecting players and fighting illegal operators.
Licensing
From 2021, Greece has a permanent license for online gambling, replacing the 2011-2020 temporary permits.
Two types of licenses:1. Type A: online betting and sports;
2. Type B (Type B): online casinos, poker and RNG games.
Basic requirements for obtaining a license:- registration of the company in the EU/EEA;
- authorized capital of at least €700,000;
- proven financial strength and reputation;
- Use of certified software (GLI, eCOGRA, iTech Labs)
- availability of Responsible Gaming program;
- payment of the license fee.
- Type A - €3,000,000 for 7 years;
- Type B - €2,000,000 for 7 years.
- Stoiximan, Betano, Novibet, Winmasters, Bet365, PokerStars. gr, Bwin, Interwetten, NetBet, Fonbet, Betshop, NoviCasino.
Taxation
The tax system in Greece is balanced and transparent.
For operators:- gross income tax (GGR) - 35%;
- corporate tax - 22%;
- annual license fee - € 100 000-200 000 depending on the volume;
- mandatory contributions to the Responsible Gaming fund.
- up to €100 - 0%;
- from €100 to €500 - 15%;
- over €500 - 20%.
Online gambling
Online gambling is one of the key segments of the Greek economy.
Since 2021, the market has been open to private and international companies, and the number of licensed operators is growing annually.
Popular online casinos:- Betano, Stoiximan, Novibet, PokerStars. gr, Bwin. gr, NetBet. gr, Interwetten, Winmasters, Bet365. gr.
- video slots and jackpots;
- poker and board games;
- live-casino with real dealers;
- sports and esports betting;
- virtual events.
According to HGC (2024), the total volume of online gambling has exceeded €1.8 billion, and annual growth is 10-12%.
More than 70% of all bets are made through mobile devices.
Land-based casinos
Greece has a network of licensed offline casinos that combine luxury recreation and tourism.
Largest establishments:- Casino Loutraki is one of the largest casinos in Europe;
- Regency Casino Mont Parnes (Athens) - a prestigious casino on Mount Parnis;
- Regency Casino Thessaloniki - flagship in the north of the country;
- Porto Carras Casino (Halkidiki);
- Casino Corfu and Casino Rhodes are tourist gems.
These sites form an important part of tourism and generate millions of euros in annual taxes.
Payment methods
The base currency is Euro (EUR).
Online operators offer a wide range of payment solutions:- Visa, MasterCard, Maestro;
- Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, PaySafeCard;
- Apple Pay, Google Pay;
- bank transfers through Alpha Bank, Eurobank, Piraeus Bank, NBG;
- cryptocurrencies (BTC, ETH, USDT) - allowed under strict AML control.
All transactions go through certified payment gateways approved by HGC.
Responsible play
Greece pays special attention to Responsible Gaming.
Since 2021, the national Hellenic Responsible Gaming Initiative (HRGI) program has been operating.
Mandatory measures for operators:- age limit 21 +;
- identity verification (KYC);
- possibility of self-exclusion;
- limits on deposits, bets and losses;
- Dependency warnings
- Support for a 24-hour hotline 1114
There is a single register of self-excluded players integrated with licensed platforms.
Economic importance
Gambling is an important part of the Greek economy.
According to the Ministry of Finance (2024):- total market turnover - more than €2.7 billion;
- tax revenues - €700 million annually;
- about 6,000 direct jobs;
- another 15,000 indirect (tourism, IT, marketing, finance).
The sector actively supports sports: Betano, Stoiximan, Novibet are official sponsors of football clubs, basketball leagues and the Greek Olympic Committee.
Challenges and challenges
Despite its success, the Greek market faces a number of challenges:- high tax burden on operators (35% GGR);
- the need to modernize regulatory procedures;
- combating unlicensed sites;
- introducing more flexible Responsible Gaming tools.
HGC regularly updates the list of blocked unlicensed domains (Registry of Illegal Operators) and strengthens its control over advertising.
Development prospects
Greece continues to strengthen its position as a southern European hub for gambling and technology.
Key growth areas:- digitalization of licensing and online monitoring of operations in real time;
- development of crypto and Web3 gambling;
- integration with pan-European Responsible Gaming platforms;
- attracting investment in tourist casino complexes (Integrated Resorts).
Thanks to transparent regulation, modern technology and a cultural focus on responsible gambling, Greece is among the most reliable and profitable jurisdictions in Europe for online casinos and the iGaming industry.
