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[BazPay]

Greece moves toward zero tolerance on illegal gambling

Greece is preparing a sweeping crackdown on illegal gambling, adopting a zero-tolerance approach to the growing black market. The government no longer views unlicensed gambling as a minor issue. Authorities are considering harsher enforcement tools, including criminal penalties.

The initiative is led by Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis and targets online and land-based gambling. A formal decree is expected in the first half of 2026. Officials estimate the illegal market is worth €1.6 billion and costs the state over €500 million annually.

Proposed reforms would sharply increase penalties for illegal operators. Prison terms could reach ten years, with fines up to €100,000. Repeat offenders and large-scale operations would face even tougher sanctions.

The new framework would also expand enforcement against physical venues and repeat players. Authorities could immediately seal premises and revoke business licenses linked to illegal gambling. The measures aim to curb demand and protect younger users increasingly drawn to unregulated platforms.

 

[BazPay]

EU lawmaker proposes bloc-wide online gambling tax

Victor Negrescu, Vice-President of the European Parliament, has backed a proposal for a harmonised online gambling tax across the EU. He argues that a small levy on operators could generate significant revenue for the EU budget. Funds would support priorities such as education, youth initiatives, and mental health programmes.

Currently, gambling taxation is controlled by individual member states. Tax rates vary widely across the bloc, ranging from 5% to 40% of gross gambling revenue. Critics say this fragmentation distorts competition and encourages operators to base themselves in low-tax jurisdictions.

Negrescu estimates that even a 1% EU-wide levy could raise tens of billions of euros annually. The online gambling market generated about €130 billion in 2022 and continues to grow steadily. Supporters see the proposal as a way to strengthen EU financial resources without burdening national budgets.

However, the plan faces significant political hurdles. The European Parliament lacks independent taxation powers, and any new EU tax would require unanimous approval from all 27 member states. Countries with strong iGaming sectors could block the initiative, making adoption uncertain.