Greece defends higher online casino taxes as gambling revenue climbs
Ministers say the additional income will support public services while helping fund stronger action against illegal gambling.
Key takeaways:
- Greece increased taxes on online casino winnings on July 1, with rates rising to 20 per cent for winnings between €100 and €500 and 30 per cent above €500.
- Taxes withheld from gambling winnings reached €369m in the first eight months of 2026, up 27.3 per cent year-on-year.
- The tax collection in July and August alone totalled €91.3m, up 73.1 per cent on the same two months in 2025.
Greece.- The government of Greece has defended its controversial increase in online casino player taxes after new figures showed gambling-related tax receipts surged during the first two months of the new regime, providing an early boost to state revenues as authorities simultaneously intensify their crackdown on illegal gambling. Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis said the higher tax rates on online casino and poker winnings introduced from July 1 would help fund public services, while data from the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) suggests the measure is already generating additional income for the state.
Tax withheld from players’ winnings reached €369.4m during the first eight months of 2026, up 27.3 per cent from €290.2m in the corresponding period of 2025. The take in July and August alone totalled €91.3m, up 73.1 per cent on the same two months in 2025.
Meanwhile, state revenue from gambling taxes and fees also increased 7.9 per cent year-on-year to €484.5m for the January to August period. Gross gaming revenue (GGR) across the sector rose 4.2 per cent to €2.06bn for the period but was actually down slightly year-on-year in July and August.
The strongest growth came from online gambling, which continued to gain market share. Online GGR climbed 13.1 per cent to €853.6m for the first eight months of the year. Tax revenue collected from online gambling players rose 38.5 per cent to €273.8m.
The new tax on online casino winnings in Greece
Under the revised framework, the first €100 of winnings per gaming session remains tax-free. Winnings between €100 and €500 are now taxed at 20 per cent, up from 15 per cent, while winnings above €500 are taxed at 30 per cent, compared with the previous 20 per cent rate. When unveiling the measure in March, Pierrakakis had estimated that the measure would increase public revenue by about €100m a year.
Deputy Finance Minister Thanos Petralias argued that the rapid expansion of online casino gaming and poker justified a larger contribution to public finances. He said the government expected the new tax structure to generate around €50m during 2026 and €100m in a full year from 2027 onwards.
Responding to concerns that higher taxes could encourage players to migrate to unlicensed gambling websites, Petralias said official forecasts had already factored in possible behavioural changes and were based on extensive operator data. He also pointed to parallel enforcement measures designed to curb illegal gambling activity.
Those efforts are forming a central part of the government’s gambling reform programme. In October, authorities confirmed that criminal complaints had been filed against 18 influencers accused of promoting illegal gambling services. At the same time, the EEEP launched a recruitment drive to strengthen its enforcement capabilities, seeking 40 additional staff on secondment, including seven IT specialists, for its gaming inspectors corps.
Other reforms include tougher website-blocking powers, expanded investigative authority and significantly increased sanctions for illegal gambling offences. Administrative penalties can reach €2m per violation, while some serious offences may carry prison sentences of at least 10 years. The measures also extend to affiliates, influencers and digital advertising networks involved in promoting unlicensed gambling operators.
FAQs
What are Greece’s new taxes on online casino winnings?
Since July 1, winnings between €100 and €500 have been taxed at 20 per cent, up from 15 per cent. Winnings above €500 are now taxed at 30 per cent, up from 20 per cent, while winnings up to €100 remain tax-free.
How much revenue does the government expect to raise from the tax increase?
Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis has said the measure is expected to generate approximately €100m in additional annual public revenue.
How much gambling tax revenue has Greece collected in 2026?
Taxes withheld from gambling winnings reached €369m during the first eight months of 2026, a 27.3 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2025.
Will higher gambling taxes encourage players to use unlicensed sites?
The government says its revenue forecasts already take potential changes in player behaviour into account and argues that stronger enforcement measures will help limit migration to illegal operators.
