Greek gambling regulator takes criminal action against influencers
The news comes after the approval of new Greek gambling regulations.
Greece.- The Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) says it has lodged criminal complaints against 18 influencers and streamers that it accuses of promoting unlicensed betting platforms. The announcement was made by the regulator’s president Antonis Bartholomew during the 4th Greek Online Gaming Day.
As reported by Greece’s Proto Thema newspaper, Bartholomew said that 18 cases have been documented, and that criminal proceedings have already been initiated. He said the first five influencers that were targeted collectively commanded an audience of more than 3 million followers, with individual accounts ranging from 337,000 to 623,000 followers.
The move marks a significant escalation in the country’s crackdown on illegal online gambling promotion. Bartholomew said the growing role of influencers and streamers in advertising unauthorised gambling services had become one of the authority’s biggest challenges. He raised concerns about minors being exposed to such promotions.
According to figures presented at the event, roughly 900,000 people in Greece participated in illegal gambling in 2025. That’s over 10 per cent of the population. The unlicensed market is estimated to generate €2bn annually, depriving the state of about €400m in revenue.
New Greek gambling regulations
A bill presented by the Ministry of National Economy and Finance and passed last week is set to overhaul gambling regulations in Greece, with new measures covering both legal and illegal gambling. The EEEP will gain new powers and increase its workforce from 80 to 110, while banks will be required to block transactions linked to unlicensed gambling operators.
For licensed operators, the law tightens player identification requirements and revises how winnings are taxed. Online poker and live casino games will now be taxed differently from video lottery terminals (VLTs).
Under the new framework, winnings credited to a player’s account will be taxed per session after a €100 tax-free threshold. The tax rate rises from 15 to 20 per cent for winnings up to €500, and from 20 to 30 per cent for amounts above €500.
The legislation also expands enforcement options against illegal gambling. The blacklist of banned operators will now cover not only websites, domains, and IP addresses but also mobile applications, reflecting the shift of illicit activity from web platforms to apps. New rules also apply to promoters, intermediaries, and service providers who facilitate access to gambling. This encompasses influencers, affiliate marketers, website owners, internet cafés and ISPs that fail to block access.
Financial institutions and payment providers will be barred from processing transactionss related to illegal gambling, covering both stakes and winnings. The same restrictions apply to electronic money institutions operating in Greece.
The law also introduces penalties for proxy players who gamble for another person or entity. Both the player and the intermediary could face up to two years in prison and fines starting at €5,000, with repeat offenders facing a minimum fine of €10,000.
Article 66 of the bill specifically targets the advertising of illegal gambling platforms. Anyone promoting or facilitating unlicensed gambling faces fines between €5,000 and €50,000 per violation. This provision covers social media posts, affiliate links, blogs, apps, and any other promotional channel. The framework also holds illegal operators accountable for their marketing practices, enabling regulators to dismantle recruitment networks that funnel players through social media, search engines, and affiliate schemes. Internet service providers that fail to comply with blocking orders will also face administrative fines.
