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Greek authorities have stepped up their fight against illegal gambling, with 18 influencers now facing scrutiny over their alleged role in promoting unlicensed betting activities.
Speaking during a briefing on enforcement efforts, Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis said illegal gambling remains a major challenge despite recent regulatory changes, pointing to the growing role of influencers, online content, and social media promotion in helping operators reach new audiences.
The cases involving the 18 individuals have already entered the preliminary investigation stage, as authorities seek to strengthen oversight of gambling content appearing online.
“The fact that an illegal activity takes place online does not create any ‘grey zone’,” Pierrakakis stated. “And the fact that promotion takes place through social media does not absolve anyone of responsibility. The rules apply everywhere and to everyone.”
Government turns attention to social media promotion
Illegal gambling has become a bigger concern for regulators as marketing activity increasingly shifts away from traditional channels and onto digital platforms.
According to the minister, websites, videos, streamers and influencers are now being used to direct consumers towards unlicensed gambling services, making enforcement more difficult than in previous years.
He said the problem extends beyond individual websites, as operators can quickly change domains and continue reaching users through social media and other online channels.
While details of the individual cases have not yet been disclosed, the minister confirmed that complaints involving 18 influencers have already been filed and are currently being examined by the authorities. He used the announcement to send a direct message to content creators and public figures involved in online promotion.
“The message in every direction must be one: the internet is not a jungle. Popularity does not grant immunity, and influence carries responsibility,” he stated. “Anyone who uses their power and reach to promote illegal gambling must know that they will be identified, scrutinised and will face the consequences provided for by law.”
New enforcement tools begin to show results
The investigation comes just months after Greece introduced changes aimed at giving the Hellenic Gaming Commission greater powers to tackle illegal gambling. The minister said the government moved to strengthen the regulator by expanding its resources, increasing staffing levels and granting gaming inspectors additional investigative powers.
Authorities also introduced immediate administrative sanctions for illegal online promotion, with fines of up to €50,000 for each violation.
The reforms were introduced against the backdrop of what the government described as a large illegal market. According to figures shared during the briefing, around €1.8bn was wagered through illegal gambling channels in 2025, while roughly 900,000 people participated in unlicensed gaming activity. Authorities had also added around 15,000 websites to the country’s blacklist.
Looking ahead, the government plans to rely more heavily on technology to improve enforcement. The minister pointed to the use of digital tools and artificial intelligence to identify illegal websites, trace the networks behind them, and detect the channels used to promote them.
