The Greece gambling market continues to attract attention as one of Southeastern Europe’s most structured yet highly regulated jurisdictions. Overseen by the Hellenic Gaming Commission, the sector combines opportunities for licensed operators with significant compliance obligations and one of the continent’s heaviest tax regimes.
Key Insights
The regulatory framework in Greece covers all verticals, including casinos, sports betting, slot machines, lotteries, online gambling, and B2B providers. However, monopolies persist in most land-based segments, leaving online gambling as the main entry point for private operators.
Two categories of online licences are available: the Greek online casino licence and the licence for online sports betting. Both are valid for seven years, require minimum paid-up capital of around €230,000, and include strict technical and compliance criteria. The Greece sports betting regulation also allows wagers on non-sporting events, such as political outcomes or entertainment contests.
Fees remain substantial – approximately €2.2m for a casino licence and €3.4m for sports betting. On top of this, Greek gambling taxation stands among the steepest in Europe, with a 35% GGR tax applied to online operators and progressive taxation on player winnings.
Operators must implement robust Greece gambling compliance systems, including full player identification, self-exclusion mechanisms, data storage within Greece, and pre-approved advertising. Anti-money laundering requirements demand due diligence from account opening, transaction monitoring, and enhanced scrutiny for high-risk players or jurisdictions.
Despite challenges, the market offers positive fundamentals: strong consumer demand, a transparent regulator, and consistent GGR performance. For well-prepared operators, Greece remains a valuable jurisdiction with long-term growth potential if reforms reduce taxation and monopolistic barriers.
Two categories of online licences are available: the Greek online casino licence and the licence for online sports betting. Both are valid for seven years, require minimum paid-up capital of around €230,000, and include strict technical and compliance criteria. The Greece sports betting regulation also allows wagers on non-sporting events, such as political outcomes or entertainment contests.
Fees remain substantial – approximately €2.2m for a casino licence and €3.4m for sports betting. On top of this, Greek gambling taxation stands among the steepest in Europe, with a 35% GGR tax applied to online operators and progressive taxation on player winnings.
Operators must implement robust Greece gambling compliance systems, including full player identification, self-exclusion mechanisms, data storage within Greece, and pre-approved advertising. Anti-money laundering requirements demand due diligence from account opening, transaction monitoring, and enhanced scrutiny for high-risk players or jurisdictions.
Despite challenges, the market offers positive fundamentals: strong consumer demand, a transparent regulator, and consistent GGR performance. For well-prepared operators, Greece remains a valuable jurisdiction with long-term growth potential if reforms reduce taxation and monopolistic barriers.
Want to explore more?
Read the full article here: EGR
