Greek Gambling: Revenue Increase and Stricter Regulations in 2025

The Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) has reported a moderate increase in gambling revenue in Greece for 2025. Simultaneously, stricter regulatory and technical measures were introduced. The total Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) reached €3.07 billion, an increase of 6.7 percent compared to 2024.

Particularly notable is the continued dominance of land-based gambling. This sector generated €1.88 billion, accounting for 61.2 percent of the total GGR. Online gambling contributed 38.8 percent and recorded year-on-year growth of 10.5 percent. The EEEP reported supervisory income of €23 million, funded entirely through statutory sources. Public revenues generated from gambling through taxes, levies, and license fees totaled €1.17 billion, an 11.2 percent increase from the previous year.

Numbers and facts

Of the €1.88 billion generated by Greece's land-based gambling sector in 2025, number games such as KINO produced the largest share of revenue at €711.3 million, representing 37.8 percent of land-based GGR. Land-based sports betting followed with €414.2 million, accounting for 22 percent, while Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) generated €365.9 million, or 19.5 percent of the total. Casinos contributed €268.6 million, equivalent to 14.3 percent of land-based GGR, with state lotteries generating a further €114.6 million (6.1 percent). Horse racing remained the smallest segment, producing €6.4 million and accounting for just 0.3 percent of land-based GGR.

The online gambling sector represented 38.79 percent of total GGR in 2025. It was supported by 24 licensed online operators, with several additional applicants progressing through the licensing process. Fixed-odds betting, including wagering on real and virtual events, generated 40.3 percent of online GGR, while other online gambling products such as live casino, poker, and slots accounted for the remaining 59.7 percent. In 2025, online betting operators were the largest contributors to public gambling revenues, generating €736.94 million, equivalent to 63.1 percent of all public receipts from the sector. OPAP, the country's lottery, contributed a further €326.66 million, accounting for 27.95 percent of public revenues. Casinos generated €61.76 million, representing 5.28 percent of the total, while the Greek State Lotteries contributed the remaining €42.60 million, or 3.65 percent of public gambling receipts.

Background

The Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) actively worked to strengthen regulation in 2025. This included launching the first phase of a central player registry, enabling unique player identification across multiple licensed operators. Seven license holders connected to the system during 2025, laying the groundwork for a unified self-exclusion framework. Player protection remained a central focus throughout the year. The regulator processed 57 indefinite self-exclusion requests, with data showing that 84 percent of applicants were male and 63 percent were aged 35 or younger.

The Hellenic National Bioethics and Technoethics Commission earlier this year recommended stronger controls on marketing practices and tighter identity verification procedures to tackle underage gambling. Specifically, it called for reducing advertising exposure for legal betting applications during time slots likely to have teenage audiences. This includes statutory limits on radio and television broadcast scheduling, alongside new regulations to govern the frequency and content of online advertisements. Gambling advertising expenditure reached approximately €130 million, with online channels – including search, display, video, social media, mobile applications, and influencers – accounting for the largest share, followed by television. During 2025, the EEEP approved 1,301 advertising and marketing plans while rejecting 156.

Enforcement activity against illegal gambling also intensified. The regulator issued six blacklist updates during the year, expanding the number of blocked domains from 9,590 in 2024 to 12,642. It received 586 whistleblower reports. The government estimated that illegal activities cost the state around €400 million in lost revenue last year, according to a statement in March. A 2025 study by the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) found that 10 percent of respondents cited influencers as their direct route into an illegal gambling website.

"The Hellenic National Bioethics and Technoethics Commission recommended stronger controls on marketing practices and tighter identity verification procedures to tackle underage gambling." - Kathryn Evans, author at iGamingBusiness.com

Why it matters for German players

The developments in Greece demonstrate how European countries are striving to improve regulation and player protection in the gambling sector. For German players, the strict requirements of the German Interstate Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV 2021) are relevant. This treaty defines which casinos are legally allowed to operate in Germany and protects players through extensive measures. German online gambling providers must hold a license from the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (GGL). Only casinos on the GGL's White List are legal and safe. This license ensures that strict rules are adhered to, such as the 1-euro stake limit per spin for slot machines and a monthly deposit limit of a maximum of 1,000 euros via the central monitoring system LUGAS. Such protective measures are far more comprehensive than in many other European countries and are intended to effectively curb problematic gambling behavior. Therefore, it is advisable for German players to exclusively use GGL-licensed offerings.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

The EEEP's strategies highlight a trend towards stricter regulation in Europe, particularly in online advertising and player protection. GGL-licensed casinos in Germany are already subject to very stringent requirements in these areas. The 1,000-euro deposit limit, central self-exclusion systems (LUGAS), strict advertising guidelines, and the 1-euro stake limit are integral parts of German licensing. These measures often go beyond what is currently being implemented in other EU countries like Greece. The EEEP's focus on combating illegal gambling is also a central concern for the GGL, which continuously blocks domains of unlicensed providers. German licensees can view the Greek developments as confirmation that their high compliance standards are a clear competitive advantage in the European market and prioritize player protection.