Greece against illegal gambling online and offline: a €1.6 billion plan
The Greek government has declared war on illegal gambling, a phenomenon that drains around €1.6 billion from the national economy every year, including half a billion in lost tax revenues. The Ministry of National Economy and Finance, under the leadership of Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis, has been tasked with developing a new regulatory framework to curb a parallel system that threatens not only the country’s economic stability but also its social cohesion.
Minister Pierrakakis did not mince his words: “The numbers are shocking. This is not only a loss of public resources, but also a deep social pathology.” With these remarks, the minister signalled the start of a reform which, from autumn 2025, will be put to public consultation and promises to radically change how illegal gambling is monitored and prosecuted.
An entrenched phenomenon: nearly 800,000 players involved
The latest figures released by the Ministry and the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) paint a worrying picture. In 2024, around 9.5% of the Greek population – almost 800,000 people – took part in illegal gambling activities. Among them, 390,000 gambled exclusively online, 215,000 attended unlicensed physical venues, and 194,000 combined both channels.
Average annual spending per player hovered around €2,000, with fewer than one-third of participants reporting any winnings. The demographic breakdown is equally concerning: most players are men aged 25 to 44, but there is a notable increase in students and young adults, a trend that has raised alarms among public health experts and addiction specialists.
The new legislative package: closures, revocations and prison sentences
The government plans to introduce swift and severe measures to tackle the issue on multiple fronts. Physical venues that facilitate illegal gambling – internet cafés, private clubs and unauthorised halls – will be shut down, while businesses involved risk permanent revocation of their licences. Those who obstruct inspections or enable illegal activities face criminal penalties, including prison sentences.
On the digital front, the reform foresees an expansion of DNS blocking mechanisms, with more than 11,000 unauthorised platforms already blacklisted. In addition, a real-time monitoring system powered by artificial intelligence will be deployed to detect suspicious activity and track illicit financial flows in cooperation with the Bank of Greece.
Prevention and legal alternatives: the government’s social strategy
This is not just about enforcement. The Greek government also aims to focus on prevention and the promotion of safe, regulated gambling channels. Awareness campaigns will be launched to educate citizens on the risks of illegal gambling, while self-exclusion tools will be made available for vulnerable individuals. At the same time, tax incentives will be introduced to support licensed operators and encourage a shift from the black market to the regulated sector.
The EEEP has already set up an inter-institutional task force, bringing together police, judges and the financial intelligence unit, with the goal of dismantling entrenched criminal networks. According to its president, Antonis Vartholomaios, this is not about isolated incidents but a “well-structured criminal system that requires robust and flexible rules for the digital era”.
A European dimension
Greece’s initiative has not gone unnoticed in Europe. During its recent Presidency of the Council of the European Union (January–June 2025), Poland pushed the issue of combating illegal gambling high on the European agenda, highlighting the economic and social impact the phenomenon also has in other member states.
Similar concerns are being raised in Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, where unlicensed online gambling is growing at an alarming pace. In this context, Greece is positioning itself as a European regulatory laboratory, combining enforcement, prevention and technological innovation.
Looking ahead
The fight against illegal gambling in Greece has only just begun, but it is already shaping up to be one of the country’s most ambitious reforms in recent years. Its dual aim is clear: to recover vital economic resources and to safeguard social wellbeing. With advanced digital tools, a stricter legislative framework and a strong emphasis on prevention, Athens is attempting to reverse what had seemed an unstoppable trend.
If the plan succeeds, Greece could become a benchmark for the entire continent in the fight against illegal gambling, proving that transparency, technology and international cooperation can indeed make a difference.
This article was first published in Italian on 25 August 2025.
