Greece Grants Sweeping New Powers to Hellenic Gaming Commission to Crush Black Market Gambling
The Greek government is moving decisively against illegal gambling. It has published proposals that would dramatically expand the authority and resources of the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP). The bill, titled “Regulations for the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) and Improvements to the Gaming Framework,” targets a black market estimated to drain €1.6-to-€2bn from the economy and cost the state €600m in lost tax revenue.
Economic Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis has made clear that Greece aims to become the first European nation with a dedicated legislative framework treating illegal gambling as both a criminal and economic threat. The measures come after the EEEP reported that 9.5% of the population, around 799,000 citizens, engaged with unlicensed gambling in 2024. For operators and regulators watching Europe’s evolving enforcement playbook, this represents a structural shift worth close attention.
Expanding the Regulator’s Capacity
At the core of the reforms is a significant boost to the EEEP’s permanent workforce. Staff numbers will rise from 80 to 110, with new hires focused on black-market enforcement and consumer protection. The additional specialists will cover information technology, cyber security, intelligence gathering, market analysis, and enforcement.
The Ministry of Finance and National Economy sees illegal gambling as a sophisticated transnational operation. The expanded EEEP will monitor websites, track payment channels, and map criminal networks operating outside the regulated market. This is not incremental adjustment. It is a deliberate build-out of enforcement muscle.
The regulator’s mandate will also widen beyond enforcement. It will coordinate responsible gambling programmes, commission research, and develop national strategies to reduce participation in unlicensed activity. From an industry perspective, a better-resourced regulator can level the playing field for licensed operators who already invest in compliance.
Tougher Enforcement Tools and Criminal Sanctions
The legislation hands the EEEP broad intervention powers. It can identify illegal content, order immediate removal of websites and accounts, strengthen the blacklist of unlicensed operators, and tighten controls over domains and internet access.
The Gaming Inspectors Corps gains enhanced status as special investigative officers. This allows them to launch criminal investigations directly and collaborate with law enforcement. Both the EEEP and the Corps will be able to order immediate closure and sealing of premises involved in illegal gambling, with businesses facing up to one-year closures and licence revocations.
Perhaps most striking are the criminal penalties. Organisers of illegal gambling face at least 10-year prison sentences and fines from €50,000 to €700,000. On a professional or commercial scale, involving minors, or from previously sealed premises, penalties rise to a minimum 10-year sentence and fines from €100,000 to €800,000. Individuals operating without licences face at least one year in prison, rising to two years for games of chance.
These rank among Europe’s toughest measures. They send a clear signal that Greece views black-market activity as serious organised crime rather than a regulatory footnote.
Holding the Ecosystem Accountable
The bill does not stop at operators. Internet service providers, advertisers, and third parties facilitating illegal gambling become directly liable. Financial sanctions range from €1,000 to €2m per violation, or per gaming machine where applicable.
Influencers, streamers, affiliate marketers, digital advertising networks, and other promoters face fines from €5,000 to €50,000 for each infringement. Licensed operators risk temporary suspensions of up to three months or permanent revocation for serious or repeated violations.
This ecosystem-wide approach addresses the promotional channels that sustain black-market growth. It raises the cost of doing business in the shadows and should push marginal participants toward licensed channels.
Risks and Limitations of the Approach
Any aggressive enforcement regime carries risks. Overly broad powers could create compliance burdens for legitimate operators if implementation lacks clear guidelines. The consultation period, open until 15 June 2026, offers an opportunity to refine these details.
Transnational networks are agile. Shutting down domestic access points may simply displace activity to offshore sites or new technologies. Sustained success will require ongoing international cooperation and investment in the very cyber and intelligence capabilities now being expanded.
There is also the question of balancing enforcement with growth. Greece’s regulated market has expanded in recent years. The challenge is to suppress the black market without chilling investment from compliant client-partners who value predictability.
The Bottom Line
Greece is showing its full hand with one of Europe’s most comprehensive crackdowns on illegal gambling. By expanding the EEEP, imposing heavy criminal sanctions, and holding the entire promotional ecosystem accountable, the government aims to reclaim €600m in annual tax revenue while protecting consumers. For gaming executives operating across Europe, this development marks an inflection point in regulatory posture. The coming months of consultation and implementation will reveal how effectively these powers translate into measurable market share gains for licensed operators. Those watching closely may see opportunities to engage with Greek authorities as the framework evolves, ensuring that innovation and accountability advance together.
