Government Targets €1.6B Black-Market Economy

Greece’s government has announced a sweeping crackdown on the illegal gambling sector, which authorities estimate drives a €1.6 billion underground economy and drains at least €500 million in public revenue each year.

The move, led by Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Minister of National Economy and Finance, will introduce a zero-tolerance legislative framework to combat both unlicensed operators and repeat players who engage in black-market gaming. The bill, expected to be published in the first half of 2026, promises one of the strictest anti-illegal gambling codes in the EU.

“This is not simply a leak of public resources,” said Pierrakakis. “We are combatting a deep social pathology that requires a modern and uncompromising response.”

Harsh Penalties for Organisers and Repeat Offenders

Criminal Accountability Expands to Players

The proposed decree escalates enforcement with criminal penalties of up to 10 years in prison for organisers of illegal gambling operations, alongside fines between €50,000 and €100,000.

Aggravating factors — such as repeat offences, involving minors, or reopening sealed premises — will trigger even higher penalties, signalling the government’s zero-tolerance policy.

In a major policy shift, players themselves could face criminal liability if they knowingly participate in illegal gambling more than once. Government officials justify the move as essential to breaking the ecosystem of habitual black-market participation, which persists despite domain blocks and site blacklists.

Enforcement Extends to Land and Online Markets

Authorities Gain New Powers to Seal Premises

The crackdown will extend to both digital and land-based venues, giving authorities power to:

  • Seal locations immediately where illegal gambling is detected — including internet cafés, private clubs, and gaming halls.
  • Revoke operating licences permanently for any business tied to unlicensed gambling.
  • Empower municipalities to block reopening attempts under new business names.

The Hellenic Gaming Supervision and Control Board (EEEP), which already maintains a blacklist of 11,000 unlicensed sites, will gain new investigative and enforcement powers under the legal reforms.

Rising Black-Market Participation

Young Adults Driving Illegal Online Growth

Data from 2024 show that 9.5% of Greece’s population — around 799,000 citizens — engaged in illegal gambling, both online and in physical venues.

  • 390,000 participants played via computers or mobile devices.
  • 215,000 gambled in physical establishments.
  • 194,000 used both channels.

The 18–34 age group accounted for over 25% of illegal gambling activity, prompting officials to cite growing worries over youth exposure to high-risk betting via unregulated sites.

Pierrakakis emphasized that “protecting younger generations” lies at the core of the initiative, demanding a “modern regulatory response to a modern criminal economy.”

European Implications and Next Steps

Athens Sets Example for EU Enforcement

Greece’s reform aims to become Europe’s first integrated anti-illegal gambling framework, combining criminal, financial, and digital controls.

Brussels regulators, along with authorities in the UK, Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands, are closely watching the Greek initiative as potential groundwork for EU-wide collaboration on gambling crime prevention.

“This is about protecting society, restoring public revenues, and confronting illegal gambling with real consequences,” Pierrakakis told lawmakers.

Summary

Greece is embarking on an unprecedented campaign to eradicate black-market gambling, introducing penalties for both operators and players, stricter digital oversight, and expanded enforcement powers. With the new legal framework expected by mid-2026, Athens is positioning itself as a European leader in anti-illegal gambling reform, framing the issue not merely as fiscal policy but as a matter of social protection and integrity.