Greek regulator files criminal complaints against 18 influencers over unlicensed betting promotions

The Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) has lodged criminal complaints against 18 influencers and streamers accused of promoting unlicensed betting platforms. For PSPs, banks, and e-money institutions operating in Greece, the key point is simple: the new framework does not stop at operators anymore; it reaches the people and payment rails that help illegal gambling get paid.

1. EEEP president Antonis Bartholomew announced the action during the 4th Greek Online Gaming Day. According to Greece’s Proto Thema, 18 cases have been documented and criminal proceedings have already been initiated.
2. The first five influencers targeted collectively had more than 3 million followers. Individual accounts ranged from 337,000 to 623,000 followers, which is a useful reminder that the promotion problem here is not hidden in obscure corners of the internet.
3. Bartholomew said the growing role of influencers and streamers in advertising unauthorised gambling services has become one of the authority’s biggest challenges. He also flagged minors being exposed to those promotions.
4. At the event, figures presented showed that roughly 900,000 people in Greece participated in illegal gambling in 2025, more than 10 per cent of the population. The unlicensed market is estimated to generate €2bn annually, with about €400m in lost state revenue.
5. A new bill from the Ministry of National Economy and Finance, passed last week, overhauls gambling rules in Greece. The EEEP will gain new powers and expand its workforce from 80 to 110, while banks will be required to block transactions linked to unlicensed gambling operators.

For licensed operators, the law also tightens player identification requirements and changes how winnings are taxed. Online poker and live casino games will now be taxed differently from video lottery terminals (VLTs). Winnings credited to a player’s account will be taxed per session after a €100 tax-free threshold, with the rate rising from 15 to 20 per cent for winnings up to €500, and from 20 to 30 per cent for amounts above €500.

The enforcement net is being widened as well. The blacklist of banned operators will now cover websites, domains, IP addresses, mobile applications, promoters, intermediaries, and service providers that facilitate access to gambling, including influencers, affiliate marketers, website owners, internet cafés, and ISPs that fail to block access. Financial institutions and payment providers will also be barred from processing transactions related to illegal gambling, including both stakes and winnings, and the same restrictions apply to electronic money institutions operating in Greece.