Online gambling: open to licensed operators

After years of transition and partial restrictions, Greece fully opened the online gambling market to licensed operators in 2021. This decision was one of the key steps in the digital transformation of the country, allowing to attract international brands, increase tax revenues and establish a high standard of transparency and responsibility in the field of gambling.

1) New regulatory phase

Online gambling in Greece is regulated by Law 4002/2011 (as amended in 2019), which determined the licensing, taxation and control of digital operators.

As of July 2021, the market is officially open to companies licensed by the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP).

The main goal of the reform is to legalize the shadow sector and attract investors, while maintaining a high level of protection for players.

2) Two categories of licenses

EEEP has developed a clear licensing system, dividing the online market into two categories:

1. Type A (Online Betting License) - sports betting and virtual competitions.

2. Type B (Online Casino License) - slots, roulette, blackjack, poker and live games.

Licenses are issued for a period of 7 years upon payment of state duty:

€3 million for Type A;
€2 million for Type B.
Operators are required to undergo technical audit and certification of their platforms from accredited laboratories (GLI, BMM Testlabs, etc.).

3) Licensed operators

Since 2021, both local and international companies have received licenses. Among the largest operators:

Bet365, Bwin, PokerStars, Betano, Stoiximan, Winmasters, Interwetten, Novibet, Fonbet.
Greek brands such as OPAP Online are developing local platforms under the national brand.
At the end of 2024, more than 20 licensed operators were operating in the country, covering 95% of the legal online market.

4) Control and compliance

All licensed operators are required to comply with strict requirements:

host servers in the EU;
Report transactions and rates to EEEP in real time
integrate Responsible Gaming tools (limits, self-exclusion, notifications);
store game data in accordance with GDPR.

EEEP maintains a registry of permitted sites and a black list of unlicensed domains, which is regularly updated and used to block access.

5) Taxation

All online operators pay 35% tax on GGR (Gross Gaming Revenue).

Players are subject to winnings taxes (from 10% to 20% depending on the amount).

The tax system is balanced and recognized as one of the most sustainable in Europe, providing budget revenues and stable business conditions.

6) Technology and Innovation

Greece is implementing modern solutions to oversee iGaming:

online rate monitoring through the centralized EEEP platform;
anti-fraud and AML systems based on artificial intelligence;
API integration with banks and payment gateways for transparency of transactions;
stimulating the development of local IT companies serving the iGaming industry.

7) Responsible play and consumer protection

Players undergo mandatory verification (KYC) and age control (21 +).

The possibility of self-exclusion is implemented through a single EEEP system.

Online gambling advertising is limited to:

aggressive advertising is prohibited;
mandatory warnings about risks and the mark "18 +";
bonuses are allowed only with clear wagering conditions.
These measures make the market safe and socially responsible.

8) Economic effect

The legalization of online gambling allowed Greece to:

bring more than €500 million of annual turnover out of the shadows;
create hundreds of jobs in IT, marketing, analytics and compliance;
strengthen the country's reputation as a European iGaming platform with a high degree of reliability.

9) International recognition

The Greek regulatory model is recognized as one of the most transparent in the EU:

Greece became a member of GREF (Gaming Regulators European Forum);
EEEP licenses are recognized as internationally respected;
the country entered the top 10 iGaming jurisdictions in Europe according to the 2024 version.

10) Forecast to 2030

growth of the online market to €3 billion GGR;

development of live games, VR casinos and mobile applications;

integration with crypto payments under the control of EU AML directives;

the emergence of Greek game developers and white-label solutions for European operators.

The opening of online gambling to licensed operators has transformed Greece from a closed market into a dynamic and transparent jurisdiction.

Balanced regulation, reliable supervision and focus on Responsible Gaming allowed the country to attract international brands and investments.

Today, Greece is an example of how legal online gambling can become a driver of the digital economy and part of the national tourism strategy, while maintaining social responsibility and government control.