The Greek government announced this week that it will intensify efforts to combat illegal and unlicensed gambling activities, which are estimated to have caused a loss of about 400 million euros in national tax revenue last year. The proposed new legislation will introduce severe criminal penalties, with organizers of illegal gambling facing up to ten years in prison and fines of 800,000 euros, while advertisers and social media influencers promoting such activities could face fines of up to 50,000 euros. In plain terms, it means not only the dealers are caught, but also the influencers who help promote them will be penalized. Want to know the latest trends in European gambling enforcement? PASA's official website continues to track regulatory dynamics in various countries.
First, Data Shock: 1.67 billion euros in black market betting, nearly 800,000 participants
The Greek Gambling Regulatory Commission found that the total amount of unlicensed gambling transactions in 2024 is estimated to reach 1.67 billion euros in bets, involving nearly 799,000 people, about 9.5% of the Greek population. The average illegal expenditure per person is about 2089 euros. The scale of the black market is roughly stable compared to 2023, showing the ongoing challenge of eradicating illegal gambling. The regulatory body has discovered thousands of unlicensed gambling domains over the past three years, and recently about 11,000 have been banned.
Second, Legal Heavy Hitters: Organizers face up to 10 years, influencers fined 50,000 euros
The new legislation is expected to take effect this spring, and key provisions include:
Organizers of illegal gambling activities face up to ten years in prison and fines of 800,000 euros
Advertisers and social media influencers promoting illegal gambling can be fined up to 50,000 euros
Repeat offenders involved in illegal gambling can be prosecuted
A 2025 study by the Greek Gambling Commission found that 10% of respondents said influencers were their direct channel to illegal gambling sites. In addition to legal measures, the commission is also deploying AI-driven monitoring systems to quickly identify and block illegal gambling sites.
Third, Collaborative Action: Working with the health department to strengthen responsible gambling
This enforcement upgrade complements broader regulatory measures. In recent months, the commission has been working with the Greek national health authorities to enhance responsible gambling safeguards to address addiction risks. This is part of a coordinated action aimed at curbing gambling harm from both law enforcement and public health perspectives.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leaders," a gambling industry news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel:https://t.me/gamblingdeep
Free data reports: @pasa_research
PASA Matrix: @pasa002_bot
PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
