New Gambling Bill Targets Illegal Betting: Up to €112M in Annual Revenue for State, Stricter Penalties
A new Greek bill aims to combat illegal gambling, potentially generating up to €112 million annually for the state through stricter regulations and enforcement.Summary
Greece’s Ministry of Finance has introduced a bill to address the issue of illegal gambling and channel activity towards licensed operators. The initiative estimates a potential increase of up to €112 million in annual state revenue by capturing a portion of the €1.67 billion currently circulating in unlicensed gambling channels. The bill empowers the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) to block access to illegal content, obtain user data, and swiftly blacklist operators. It also introduces penalties for advertising unlicensed gambling sites. Data from 2024 indicates that approximately 799,000 Greek citizens engaged in unlicensed gambling, while the legal market generated €1.05 billion in revenue. Even a partial shift of illegal activity to licensed channels could yield significant financial gains for the state, with projections of €28 million, €56 million, or €84 million for 25%, 50%, and 75% shifts, respectively. The bill focuses on rapid and targeted interventions, particularly online, to address the growing number of illegal gambling domains.
(Source：Athens Times)