Greece’s gambling regulator has filed criminal complaints against 18 influencers who promoted illegal betting platforms to a combined audience of over 3 million followers, many of whom are minors, as authorities intensify their crackdown on unlicensed online betting.
What Happened
The Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP), Greece’s gambling regulator, has filed criminal complaints against 18 influencers and streamers for their involvement in promoting unauthorized gambling platforms. Antonis Bartholomew, head of the EEEP, announced this move during the 4th Greek Online Gaming Day, stating that the promotion of illegal providers by online personalities is a significant challenge. The regulator has documented 18 separate cases and submitted a criminal complaint to bring those involved to justice.
Key Details
- Eighteen influencers and streamers are facing criminal complaints from the Greek gambling regulator.
- These individuals collectively reached an audience of more than 3 million followers.
- A significant portion of the audience exposed to these promotions were minors.
- The five most prominent influencers named had individual follower counts of 623,000, 456,000, 435,000, 422,000, and 337,000.
- Illegal gambling in Greece involved approximately 900,000 people (10.5% of the population) in 2025, with an estimated market turnover of €2 billion and €400 million in lost state revenue.
- A new Finance Ministry bill introduces a stricter regulatory framework, including tougher identification requirements for legal betting.
- Changes in taxation for legal online gambling include a progressive tax on winnings per gaming session, with a tax-free allowance of €100.
- The blacklist for illegal providers will expand to include mobile applications in addition to domain names, IP addresses, and websites.
Why It Matters
This aggressive action by the Greek gambling regulator highlights the growing concern over the proliferation of illegal online gambling, specifically its reach among impressionable audiences like minors through social media. By targeting influencers with large followings, authorities are sending a clear message that promoting unlicensed betting will have severe legal consequences. The new Finance Ministry bill underscores a comprehensive strategy to not only curb illegal activity but also to reform and strengthen the regulation of legal gambling, aiming to protect players and recover significant lost state revenues. The expansion of the blacklist to include mobile applications reflects an adaptation to the evolving landscape of digital illicit activities, attempting to close loopholes often exploited by illegal operators.