Betsson gains Greek gaming licences
Betsson has gained online gaming and betting licences from the Hellenic Gaming Commission.
Greece.- The Hellenic Gaming Commission has granted Swedish gambling company Betsson online gaming and betting licences, allowing it to launch its flagship brand in the country.
Betsson intends to launch Betsson.gr in the next few weeks. It will offer sports betting, casino, live casino and virtual sports.
The Hellenic Gaming Commission opened applications for its new licences in October last year. Its online gaming licence covers casino, slots and poker, while the betting licence allows operators to offer sports betting.
Pontus Lindwall, Betsson’s president and chief executive, said: “We are really pleased to receive these licenses and to welcome Greece as Betsson’s 18th locally regulated market.
“As in other markets, our vision for Greece is to offer the best customer experience possible and we have partnered with some great gaming suppliers and payment providers to augment our offering.
“The Greek gaming market has experienced significant growth over the past years, and we see a lot of potential.”
Betsson said its Greek brands offering would be designed with local players in mind and with Greek language customer support services.
Greece’s new gambling licences
The Hellenic Gaming Commission opened applications for new gambling licences in October last year following the introduction of new legislation in October 2019.
Separate seven-year licences are available for online sports betting and for online gaming. Sportsbooks pay a fee of €3m, while the fee for offering games of chance is €2m. Licence holders will also have to pay taxes representing 35 per cent gross gaming revenue.
Successful applicants must limit play to over 21s, while online casino will have strict limits including a €2 maximum slot stake and prize caps of €5,000 and a €50,000 limit for jackpots.
Greece has introduced the new framework as part of a package of reforms dubbed “Invest in Greece”. The legislation included measures to streamline planning regulations.
As part of the regulatory overhaul, the HGC was instructed to increase licensing requirements to cover operators’ key operational and management personnel.
Parties that have already applied for Greek B2C licences must now complete “suitability” disclosures providing details of shareholders, management, manufacturers, technicians and certification bodies.
Unlicensed operators judged to have targeted Greece illegally are not allowed to apply for licences for 12 months following the launch of the new framework.
In August, Greece announced a ban on advertising online slots.
Meanwhile, in land-based casino news, The CEO of Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment has said that the Hellinikon casino in Greece will be ready to launch in 2025-2026.
