Greece to ramp up illegal gambling crackdown with new enforcement hires

The regulator is expanding its powers as authorities target criminal networks, social media promotion and lost tax revenues.

Key Takeaways

• Greece’s gambling regulator will recruit 40 staff for an expanded Inspection and Enforcement division.
• The hiring drive follows new anti-illegal gambling legislation introduced in June.
• Authorities estimate the illegal gambling market generated around €1.8bn in activity during 2025.
• Illegal operators can now face prison sentences of at least 10 years and fines of up to €800,000 for aggravated offences.
• Investigators are already examining complaints against 18 influencers accused of promoting illegal gambling online.

Greece is strengthening its fight against illegal gambling by expanding the enforcement capabilities of the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) and recruiting specialist staff to pursue offenders. The move forms part of a broader government effort to tackle a black market worth an estimated €1.8bn, using tougher penalties, enhanced investigative powers and new digital tools to identify illegal operators and their networks.

Greece.- The Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) has secured funding to launch a major recruitment programme as it prepares to expand its efforts against illegal gambling in Greece. The regulator will begin hiring for 40 roles within a newly strengthened Inspection and Enforcement division, which will be responsible for implementing tougher measures aimed at combating unlawful gambling activity.

Applications for the positions will be open to permanent public sector employees as well as staff from eligible public bodies and private-sector IT firms. The recruitment campaign comes amid an overhaul gambling regulations in Greece. A bill passed in June paved the way to expand the EEEP’s permanent staff from 80 to 110 to allow new hires in enforcement, IT and cybersecurity, and market surveillance and intelligence.

The measures have been spearheaded by Minister of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis. He has said that black market gambling in Greece was worth around €1.8bn in 2025 and involved approximately 900,000 participants, while the government has estimated €400m in lost annual revenue. The EEEP reported a 6.7 per cent rise in regulated Greek gambling revenue in 2025. According to the commission’s annual report, gross gaming revenue (GGR) from licensed operators reached €3.07bn.

Under the new legislation, operators found running illegal games of chance face significantly tougher punishments, including prison terms of at least 10 years and fines ranging from €50,000 to €700,000. More serious violations, such as operating gambling businesses on a professional or commercial scale, involving minors, or reopening premises that have been shut down by authorities, could result in fines of between €100,000 and €800,000, in addition to a minimum 10-year custodial sentence.

The EEEP’s Inspection and Enforcement division will receive enhanced investigative powers intended to move enforcement beyond the blocking of websites and enable authorities to pursue the individuals and criminal networks responsible for illegal gambling operations.

Pierrakakis has also pointed to the growing role of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in the government’s strategy, with authorities using these tools to identify unlawful gambling websites, track promotional activity and map connections between illegal operators. The crackdown is already under way. Authorities have filed complaints against 18 streamers and influencers accused of promoting illegal gambling through social media platforms, with those cases currently subject to preliminary investigation.

Pierrakakis has sharply criticised social media companies for failing to prevent the spread of illegal gambling content. The finance minister is also working with the Ministry of Justice on new cross-government coordination measures intended to strengthen the prosecution of individuals and organised criminal groups involved in black-market gambling activities.

Meanwhile, the regulator is reportedly considering reforms to player verification procedures. The EEEP has reportedly requested information from all 18 licensed operators regarding how they acquire, manage and reward premium customers. Although the Commission has maintained that the data collection exercise is intended for statistical purposes, some view it as an attempt to gain a clearer picture of a segment that has traditionally faced less intensive scrutiny. Concerns remain that generous incentives aimed at VIP players could potentially encourage gambling activity to migrate towards unlicensed offshore operators, creating challenges for both regulatory supervision and tax collection.

FAQs

Why is Greece recruiting new gambling enforcement staff?

The EEEP is creating a stronger Inspection and Enforcement division to implement new anti-illegal gambling laws. The additional staff will support investigations into unlawful operators and criminal networks.

How large is Greece’s illegal gambling market?

Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis said illegal gambling activity reached approximately €1.8bn during 2025 and involved around 900,000 people.

What penalties do illegal gambling operators face in Greece?

The new framework allows for prison sentences of at least 10 years and fines ranging from €50,000 to €700,000. Aggravated offences can attract fines of up to €800,000 alongside the same minimum prison term.

How is Greece using technology to combat illegal gambling?

Authorities plan to use digital tools and artificial intelligence to identify illegal gambling websites, map criminal networks and monitor promotional activity linked to unlawful operators.