Greece to Recruit 40 Specialists to Strengthen Illegal Gambling Enforcement
Greece.- 23 October 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com Greece is intensifying its crackdown on illegal gambling by expanding the enforcement capabilities of the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP).
The regulator has secured funding to recruit 40 professionals for its Inspection and Enforcement division, strengthening its ability to investigate unauthorised platforms, identify criminal networks and implement tougher penalties.
The initiative forms part of legislative reforms approved in June 2026 and responds to the scale of the country’s illegal gambling market.
Illegal Gambling Generated €1.8 Billion in Activity During 2025
Minister of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis has presented official estimates highlighting the scale of illegal gambling in Greece.
Key figures include:
- €1.8 billion: estimated illegal gambling activity during 2025.
- 900,000 people: estimated participants in unauthorised gambling.
- €400 million: estimated annual losses in government revenue.
- €3.07 billion: gross gaming revenue generated by licensed operators in 2025.
- 6.7%: annual growth in regulated gambling revenue.
The figures illustrate the challenges facing the Greek Government as it seeks to reduce black-market activity and protect licensed operators.
Specialist Recruitment and Expanded Investigative Powers
The EEEP will launch a recruitment process to fill 40 specialist positions.
Eligible applicants will include permanent civil servants, employees of qualifying public bodies and certain professionals working in the technology sector.
Legislation approved in June also provided for the regulator’s permanent workforce to increase from 80 to 110 employees, strengthening enforcement, cybersecurity and market intelligence capabilities.
The Inspection and Enforcement division will receive additional powers to investigate the individuals and organisations responsible for illegal gambling operations.
The objective is to move beyond an enforcement model focused primarily on blocking unauthorised websites.
Prison Sentences and Fines of Up to €800,000
The new regulatory framework introduces significantly tougher sanctions for illegal gambling activities.
The legislation includes:
- Prison sentences of at least ten years for certain offences.
- Fines ranging from €50,000 to €700,000 for illegal gambling operations covered by the legislation.
- Financial penalties of €100,000 to €800,000 for aggravated offences.
Aggravating circumstances include organised commercial operations, the involvement of minors and reopening premises previously closed by authorities.
The tougher penalties are intended to strengthen the legal consequences facing unlicensed operators.
Artificial Intelligence and Social Media Enforcement
Greek authorities also plan to deploy digital tools and artificial intelligence to identify illegal gambling websites, track promotional campaigns and investigate connections between unauthorised operators.
As part of the crackdown, complaints have been filed against 18 streamers and influencers accused of allegedly promoting illegal gambling services.
The cases remain subject to preliminary investigation.
Pierrakakis has criticised certain social media platforms for failing to sufficiently prevent the distribution of illegal gambling advertisements.
The Ministry of National Economy and Finance is also working with the Ministry of Justice to improve coordination between enforcement bodies and strengthen prosecution efforts.
Monitoring Licensed Operators and VIP Customers
The EEEP is also reportedly considering changes to player identification and monitoring procedures.
According to the information released, the regulator has requested data from all 18 licensed operators concerning their acquisition, management and reward practices for high-value customers.
Although the Commission has described the exercise as statistical, the information could provide additional insight into commercial practices targeting this customer segment.
A key challenge will be preventing regulatory restrictions or commercial incentives from encouraging players to migrate towards unlicensed offshore platforms.
Industry Impact and Next Steps
Greece’s strategy combines specialist recruitment, criminal penalties, artificial intelligence and institutional cooperation to strengthen enforcement against illegal gambling.
The new division will expand the EEEP’s investigative capabilities and support action against organisations operating outside the licensed market.
For the iGaming industry, the measures highlight the growing importance of technology-led enforcement and protecting regulated markets from unauthorised competition.
Editó: @fonta
