HGC Enforcement and 2026 Reforms
Greece has entered a new phase in its battle against illegal online gambling, combining large‑scale technical enforcement with plans for deeper legislative reform. As of December 2025, the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) reports that approximately 11,000 unlicensed gambling domains have been blocked, marking the most extensive use to date of Greece’s blacklist mechanism and technical measures against illegal operators. Yet, despite this unprecedented volume of enforcement action, the illegal online market is still estimated at around €1.6–1.7 billion annually, underscoring the structural resilience of unlicensed activity and the need for more sophisticated regulatory tools.
The Limits of Domain Blocking
The current blocking regime illustrates both the strengths and weaknesses of Greece’s approach to date. DNS and IP blocking, implemented through cooperation with internet service providers, allow the HGC to cut off access to specific domains once they have been identified as illegal. However, operators routinely respond by launching new domains or mirror sites, often within days, thereby exploiting the gap between domain registration, detection, investigation and eventual blocking. In practice, this constant “cat‑and‑mouse” dynamic means that the blacklist grows steadily without ever fully neutralising the underlying networks of unlicensed operators, many of which are based outside Greece but actively target Greek consumers.
The 2026 Legislative Framework
Greek authorities now explicitly recognise that domain‑level blocking alone is insufficient and are preparing a new legislative framework, expected to be introduced in 2026, to rebalance enforcement away from a purely reactive model. According to public statements, the forthcoming reforms will significantly expand the operational powers of the HGC and better align enforcement tools with the technical realities of online gambling markets. Central to this plan is a shift in focus from the illegal websites themselves to the broader ecosystem that supports them, including marketing channels, affiliates, media outlets and digital advertising intermediaries.
Advertising Controls and Intermediary Liability
A cornerstone of the proposed framework is the ability to immediately suspend or prohibit advertising for illegal gambling services. Under this model, the HGC would not only address unlicensed operators but would also be empowered to intervene against affiliates, influencers, broadcasters, website publishers, and advertising networks that promote or profit from unlicensed offerings. This approach mirrors trends in other European jurisdictions, where regulators increasingly treat advertising and affiliate networks as critical choke points in the illegal gambling supply chain, recognising that visibility and traffic acquisition often matter as much as technical access to a site. For the Greek market, where social media marketing, streaming content and targeted online ads are key drivers of player acquisition, such powers could have a particularly material impact.
Cooperation with Telecommunications and Domain Authorities
Another strategic pillar of the reform is strengthened cooperation with telecommunications and domain‑registration authorities. The HGC is working towards closer integration with the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT), which oversees the .gr domain registry and broader telecoms infrastructure. The objective is to secure access to near real‑time domain‑registration data and develop the technical capacity to flag potentially illegal gambling domains at or shortly after registration, rather than waiting until consumer harm or complaints trigger an investigation. By correlating registry information, hosting details and known operator identifiers, regulators aim to shorten the window of opportunity during which illegal sites are accessible from Greece and to automate parts of the detection process through data analytics and risk‑based monitoring tools.
The 2026–2030 Strategic Plan
These enforcement enhancements are not being developed in isolation but sit within the HGC’s broader 2026–2030 strategic plan for the Greek gambling market. The strategy explicitly targets the reduction of the black market, both to protect state revenues and to safeguard players, with particular emphasis on minors and other vulnerable groups. Public data cited by the regulator indicate a worrying level of youth exposure to illegal online gambling, which has been a key political and social driver for the new measures. At the same time, the HGC and government officials stress the need to maintain a “golden balance”: enforcement must be strong enough to make the illegal market unattractive, but without over‑burdening licensed operators in a way that would push consumers back towards unregulated sites.
Market Review and Regulatory Coherence
In parallel with enforcement and player‑protection objectives, the strategic plan also contemplates a broader review of the gambling framework, including land‑based and online casino licensing, to ensure that the regulated sector remains competitive and technologically modern. This includes, among other things, reassessing the casino market structure, monitoring the performance and social impact of integrated resort developments, and enhancing compliance standards for licensed operators so they can serve as credible, safe alternatives to illegal offerings. Within this context, the planned advertising‑control powers and telecoms cooperation are not simply punitive instruments; they form part of a wider regulatory architecture aimed at consolidating a sustainable, channelled market in which players migrate – and remain – within the licensed environment. If implemented as announced, the 2026 reforms will mark a significant evolution in Greece’s regulatory toolkit, moving from an era defined by static blacklists and periodic raids to one characterised by dynamic monitoring, intermediary liability and systemic cooperation across regulatory and infrastructure authorities.
References
In.gr / OT – “Greece battles surge in illegal online gambling: 11,000 sites blocked” (English edition, December 2025).
SoloAzar – “Greece cracks down on illegal online gambling, blocking over 11,000 websites” (December 2025).
OT.gr – “Greece battles surge in illegal online gambling” (December 2025).
iGamingExpress – “Greece targets €1.6 billion illegal gambling market” (August 2025).
MundoVideo – “Regulatory offensive: Athens government intensifies crackdown on €1.6 billion shadow gambling market” (August 2025).
Tribuna Casino – “Greece counts 11,000 illegal gambling websites as regulator pushes new gaming bill” (December 2025).
LCB.org – “Greece cracks down on 11,000 illegal online gambling sites, plans tougher measures” (December 2025).
SiGMA World – “Greece blocks 11,000 illegal gambling websites” (December 2025).
To Vima / OT – coverage of HGC announcements on new legislative framework and enforcement powers (December 2025).
Gaming‑Awards.com – “Greece takes down over 11,000 illegal gambling websites” (December 2025).
SiGMA World – related coverage on strategic goals and illegal market dynamics.
SiGMA World – “Greece blocks 11,000 illegal gambling websites” (December 2025).
ACE Alliance – “Greek Gambling Regulator Plans to Review the Casino Market” (December 2025).
iGamingExpert – “Greece launches review to fix fractures in casino market” (December 2025).