| Updated: October 31, 2025Gambling and Greek culture have long been closely intertwined. Evidence suggests that luck-based games, such as heads-or-tails and dice, date back to ancient Greece. Over the years, Greece’s gambling laws have changed repeatedly. Today, gambling is legal, and online gambling has become one of the most popular forms of entertainment among Greek people. However, the country’s path toward liberalizing its gambling market was long and thorny.
For years, the Greek gambling market was subject to a monopoly held by the state-controlled company OPAP. The European Union criticized Greece for its stringent rules regarding online gambling. Under pressure from the EU and seeking to overcome the financial crisis, Greek legislators ultimately liberalized the online gambling market.
Casino Sites in Greece
Online gambling has been legal in Greece since 2011. At the moment, there are not many web-based casinos licensed by the country’s regulator, because foreign operators have only been allowed to apply for full licenses since 2019. More brands are expected to enter the Greek market soon. When selecting an online casino, you should consider several factors, including supported payment methods, no-deposit bonuses, and withdrawal timeframes. Greek players looking for safe gambling sites should check our list of top online casinos.
Best Casino Bonuses in Greece
Greek players can choose from a limited number of gambling sites licensed by the Greek regulator. Nevertheless, casino fans from Greece can take advantage of various promotions. The available promotions are often what attract players to a particular online casino, which is why operators frequently offer generous bonuses to both newcomers and existing patrons. Before claiming any offer, read the bonus terms carefully and make sure you understand them. If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact the casino’s customer support team.
Welcome Bonus No Deposit Bonus Reload Bonuses Cashback Bonuses Loyalty SchemesWelcome Bonus
When you create an account at an online casino, you will usually be offered a Welcome Bonus. To claim it, Greek players must make a qualifying deposit. The bonus will match your first deposit up to a specified amount, and the offer may also include free spins. Remember that welcome bonuses come with wagering requirements that you must meet before cashing out any profits. You will also need to comply with the maximum bet limit imposed by the operator.
No Deposit Bonus
Some Greek online casinos also offer a one-time bonus that requires no deposit. These bonuses are designed to attract newcomers and allow them to try the casino without risking their own funds. Players must satisfy the wagering requirements associated with the no deposit bonus before withdrawing their winnings. Note that online casinos usually impose a cap on the maximum withdrawable winnings.
Reload Bonuses
Many gambling sites offer a variety of reload bonuses to keep their regular players engaged for a long time. Reload bonuses are offered to casino fans who have deposited one or more times. These incentives usually include a matched deposit bonus and free spins. Sometimes reload promotions are part of the welcome package, in which case players receive several bonuses on their initial deposits.
Cashback Bonuses
Losing streaks can be discouraging, which is why some online casinos that accept Greek players feature cashback bonuses. These promotions allow casino enthusiasts to receive back a percentage of their net losses incurred over a set period. Usually, cashback bonuses come with low wagering requirements, which makes them even more appealing.
Loyalty Schemes
Many online casinos geared toward the Greek market feature point-based loyalty schemes. Players earn comp points every time they place a real-money wager and can exchange them for bonus cash once they have accumulated enough. Loyalty programs usually include multiple VIP levels; the more points you earn, the higher your status becomes. Higher VIP levels offer more generous rewards. Some casino operators also treat their loyal patrons to exclusive promotions, birthday gifts, higher withdrawal limits, and a personal VIP host.
Casino Regulation in Greece
Greece legalized land-based gambling establishments in 1994 with the passage of Law 2204. The legislation allowed for nine licenses to be issued to land-based casinos. Currently, there are a total of 8 brick-and-mortar casinos in Greece, attracting thousands of tourists. Statistics show that a large share of the country’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) comes from land-based casinos.
When it comes to Internet gambling, the situation is not as straightforward. In 2002, the country introduced a blanket ban on all forms of electronic gambling in an effort to crack down on illegal practices. However, the law failed to differentiate between online gambling, offline gambling, and video games, effectively prohibiting Internet cafes from offering even video games.
For years, the provision of gambling services in Greece was subject to a monopoly held by the state-run sports betting and lottery platform OPAP, established in 1958. The European Union criticized Greece for its restrictive gambling laws, stating that the country’s gambling monopoly violates the EU’s trade agreements.
Lawmakers eventually bowed to EU pressure. In 2011, Law № 4002/2011, also known as the Gambling Act, was passed, legalizing online gambling and allowing the issuance of temporary licenses for online gambling and sports betting. The government granted 24 permits to reputable operators such as William Hill and Betfair.
One year later, the Greek Ministry of Finance proposed to monopolize the online gambling market, and licensed operators were urged to exit the country. Many operators filed legal challenges, alleging that Greece’s regulations violated the EU’s policies on free trade. In 2013, OPAP’s monopoly was ruled illegal by the Court of Justice of the European Union.
That same year, Greece sold its remaining 33% stake in OPAP to Emma Delta, finalizing OPAP’s privatization. Nevertheless, the monopoly persisted. In 2014, a Greek court declared that OPAP’s monopoly complied with EU law because it aimed to combat organized crime.
Between 2013 and 2016, Greece experienced a significant drop in gambling revenue, generating only €60,000 during that period. In 2016, the government announced plans to revamp its gambling regulations and open the market to foreign operators. In 2019, lawmakers approved new online gambling regulations, and a year later Greece’s gambling authority, the Hellenic Gaming Commission, issued a public invitation for operators to apply for licenses.
It is important to note that bet exchange sites are not legal in Greece.
Obtaining a Greek License Responsible Gambling PracticesObtaining a Greek License
Operators interested in entering the Greek market can apply for two types of licenses – one for online sports betting and another for casino-style games. Both licenses are valid for seven years, and operators must apply for renewal at least one year before their licenses expire. Applicants must pay an application fee of €10,000, along with license fees of €3 million for sports betting and €2 million for online games.
To obtain a license, applicants must have a minimum capital of €200,000 and provide a bank guarantee of €10,000. In addition, operators must use a .gr domain and host their servers within the country.
Greek players should know that their gambling winnings are subject to taxes. No taxes apply to winnings below €100, but profits between €100 and €500 are taxed at 15%. Winnings exceeding €500 are subject to a 20% tax.
Responsible Gambling Practices
To protect vulnerable players and minors, the Greek government introduced several provisions regarding gambling advertisements. According to Article 35 of the Gaming Act, operators are prohibited from encouraging participation by promising massive profits. Advertisements must not suggest that gambling is an important source of income, provide misleading information, or imply that players can predict game outcomes. Gambling ads are permitted on social media, provided they do not target minors.
Under the law, individuals under the age of 21 are not allowed to participate in gambling activities. In 2019, Greek lawmakers imposed strict limits on RNG games after attempting to ban online slots on several occasions. Players were permitted to wager no more than €2 per spin, and a cap of €5,000 was placed on the maximum prize per gaming session. In addition, slot games had to feature at least 3 seconds between spins.
In May 2022, lawmakers relaxed these restrictions, raising the stake limit to €20 and decreasing the minimum time between two game rounds to 2 seconds. The maximum prize a casino game can offer was also increased from €70,000 to €140,000.