The market
Greece runs an open, licensed online market under the Hellenic Gaming Commission. The current framework dates from a 2019 overhaul of Law 4002/2011, which replaced the earlier transitional regime with permanent seven-year licences split into Type 1 for online betting and Type 2 for other online games of chance. Historic HGC data put gross gaming revenue above EUR 1.3bn in 2019, and the market has continued to grow, though a single verified recent full-year online GGR figure was not confirmed for this profile.
The market is genuinely open to new applicants, unlike Spain or Italy, but the cost of entry is high. A Type 1 betting licence costs EUR 3m and a Type 2 casino licence EUR 2m, each for seven years, on top of a EUR 10,000 application fee and a EUR 500,000 security deposit. Combined with a 35% GGR tax, this filters out all but well-capitalised operators.
The player base is engaged and served by a set of large licensed brands, with the minimum age set at 21.
Regulation and licensing
The HGC licenses under Law 4002/2011 as amended. Type 1 covers online betting and Type 2 covers online casino games and other chance-based products, each valid for seven years and renewable. The application fee is EUR 10,000, licences cost EUR 3m (Type 1) or EUR 2m (Type 2), and a EUR 500,000 security deposit applies. The HGC reports granting online licences within about two months of a complete application, which is fast by European standards.
Tax is a flat 35% of GGR across verticals, with corporation tax at 22% applied before GGR tax. That headline burden is the central modelling constraint: the licence fee is a one-time barrier, but the 35% GGR tax is the ongoing one.
Marketing and player rules
Advertising is permitted for licensed operators under HGC rules. Responsible-gambling controls include wagering limits and a EUR 2 slot cap, and cryptocurrency payments are not allowed. Player winnings are taxed progressively, and from 1 July 2026 online casino and poker winnings over EUR 500 are taxed at 30%, a player-side change that affects the net proposition. A February 2026 bill proposes prison sentences and fines up to EUR 800,000 for unlicensed operators, tightening enforcement. Affiliate exposure is manageable within the HGC framework.
What this means for your plan
I would treat Greece as open but expensive. The two-month licensing turnaround and genuine openness are attractive, but EUR 2m to EUR 3m in licence fees plus a 35% GGR tax mean you need scale and a clear path to volume before the numbers work. If you are a large operator wanting a clean, licensable EU market without a tender or an acquisition, Greece is a real option and I would model it seriously. If you are mid-sized, the fees and tax likely rule it out. First move: model breakeven volume against the 35% tax and the seven-year fee amortisation.
Sources
- Softswiss regulation map, Greece, checked 4 September 2026
- Legalpilot, Greece gambling laws 2026, checked 4 September 2026
- Gamblingmaps, Greece gambling 2026, checked 4 September 2026