Greece defends higher online casino taxes as gambling revenue climbs

Greece is standing by its higher online casino player taxes, which took effect on July 1, while pointing to stronger state revenues and a tougher line on illegal gambling. For PSPs and operators, the important part is not just the tax rate itself, but the combination of higher take from the licensed market and more enforcement pressure on unlicensed channels.

1. Winnings between €100 and €500 are now taxed at 20 per cent, up from 15 per cent, while winnings over €500 are taxed at 30 per cent, up from 20 per cent. The first €100 remains tax-free. Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis said the additional income supports public services and funds stronger action against illegal gambling.
2. Data from the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) shows taxes withheld from winnings reached €369.4m in the first eight months of 2026, a 27.3 per cent year-on-year increase. July and August alone brought in €91.3m, up 73.1 per cent from 2025.
3. Online gambling GGR climbed 13.1 per cent, while tax revenue from online players rose 38.5 per cent to €273.8m. The government expects €100m annually from 2027, which is the fiscal logic behind keeping the higher rates in place despite concerns about player migration to unlicensed sites.
4. Greece is pairing the tax change with enforcement measures: criminal complaints against influencers promoting illegal services, a recruitment drive for enforcement staff, fines of up to €2m, and prison sentences for illegal gambling. In practice, that means licensed operators are being asked to absorb higher taxation while the state tries to narrow the gap with offshore and unlicensed traffic.

For high-risk payment firms, the signal is straightforward: Greece is not treating higher online gambling taxes as a standalone revenue measure. It is tying them to market containment, payment disruption, and enforcement against illegal operators, which makes licensed channel quality and compliance more central, not less.

1. Maarten Haijer, WGBA, said: “Every safeguard designed by a regulator or licensed operator only works if people stay in the licensed market.”
2. The newly established World Gaming and Betting Alliance (WGBA), led by Haijer, wants to bring licensed-operator data into international gambling policy debates and work alongside national and regional associations.
3. Haijer said cooperation on website and advertising blocking, payment channels, and cross-border enforcement is crucial against illegal operators. He also warned that severe restrictions or high taxes can push consumers towards unregulated platforms if the regulated market becomes too expensive or too constrained.