🎰 Greece🇬🇷: gambling regulator EEEP granted expanded powers to combat illegal gambling networks

🎰 Greece🇬🇷: gambling regulator EEEP granted expanded powers to combat illegal gambling networks

A comprehensive reform package has been submitted to Parliament under the bill titled “Provisions on the EEEP and the Improvement of the Regulatory Framework”, aimed at strengthening enforcement against illegal gambling and enhancing the regulator’s supervisory authority.

➡️ At the beginning of 2026, the Minister of Economy announced plans to accelerate measures against illegal gambling. According to estimates, such activities cause economic damage ranging from 1.6 to 2 billion euros and lead to direct tax losses of approximately 600 million euros.

➡️ According to EEEP data for 2024, 9.5% of the population (around 799,000 people) used services from unlicensed gambling operators at least once.

➡️ The reform includes:

➖ The external supervisory body — the European Agency for Economic and Social Services — will be empowered to identify and order the immediate removal of illegal content, websites, and associated online accounts.

➖ Stricter oversight of domain names and internet access restrictions will be introduced.

➖ gambling inspectors will receive expanded powers and the status of special investigators. This will allow them to directly initiate criminal investigations and cooperate with law-enforcement authorities in cases involving illegal gambling activities.

➖ the EEEP and the Inspectorate Corps will be authorized to order the immediate closure and sealing of premises where illegal gambling activities are identified. Violating companies may face closure for up to 1 year and possible license revocation.

➖ internet providers, advertisers, and third parties found facilitating such activities will face penalties. Financial sanctions range from 1,000 to 2 million euros for each violation or each gaming machine, depending on severity and frequency.

➖ influencers, streamers, marketing affiliates, digital advertising networks, and other online promoters involved in promoting unlicensed gambling services may face fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 euros per violation.

➖ operators themselves, in cases of serious or repeated violations, may also have their licenses suspended for up to 3 months or revoked permanently.

➡️ However, the most significant aspect of the reform is the introduction of criminal penalties, considered among the strictest measures in Europe.
➖ individuals organizing illegal gambling operations may face prison terms of at least 10 years and fines ranging from 50,000 to 700,000 euros.

➖ in cases where offenses are committed on a professional or commercial scale, involve minors, or occur in premises previously sealed by authorities, penalties become stricter: defendants may face the same 10-year prison sentence and fines ranging from 100,000 to 800,000 euros.

➖ individuals organizing gambling activities without the required licenses may face prison sentences of one to two years.

➡️ Regarding online gambling, the reforms are expected to increase the taxation of winnings obtained from online casinos (although the exact rates have not yet been specified).

#news #Europe #gambling

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