Greece online gambling license (HGC)
A mature EU market licensed by the Hellenic Gaming Commission: Type 1 for online betting and Type 2 for casino and poker, each for seven years. Entry needs an EU/EEA company, a safe server in Greece and certified games, with a 35% GGR tax and strict advertising rules.
- Best for
- Operators targeting a mature, high-tax EU market
- Who can be licensed
- B2C operators and B2B suppliers
- Markets it serves
- EU regulated markets
Greece licenses online gambling through the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) under Law 4002/2011, as amended by Law 4635/2019. A Type 1 license covers online betting and a Type 2 license covers casino, live casino, slots and poker; each runs for seven years. Applicants need an EU/EEA seat or permanent establishment, at least €200,000 paid-up capital and a bank guarantee, plus a safe server in Greece and a .gr domain. Operators pay 35% of gross gaming revenue, advertise only under an HGC-approved plan, and suppliers need an HGC suitability license. Law 5313/2026 toughened sanctions against unlicensed gambling.
- Status
- Licensing open
- Regulator
- Hellenic Gaming Commission
- Legal basis
- Law 4002/2011, arts. 45–52, as amended by Law 4635/2019 and Law 5313/2026
- Status checked
- October 16, 2026
License types in Greece
Licenses are personal and non-transferable; one company can hold both types. Lotteries are reserved to the state concessionaires.
Type 1: online betting
Sports betting, fantasy sports and virtual betting. Valid seven years from the HGC’s grant.
Type 2: other online games
Online casino, live casino, slots and poker. Valid seven years.
Suitability license
Suppliers of technical means, such as platforms, game studios and RNG providers, hold an HGC suitability license; compliance officers are licensed too.
Affiliates
Affiliates are entered in the HGC Register of Affiliates; licensees may only work with registered affiliates.
Who can hold an HGC license
| Requirement | Under Law 4002/2011 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Legal person with a registered seat or permanent establishment in Greece or another EU/EEA state; non-EU groups apply through an EU/EEA entity |
| Share capital | At least €200,000 paid-up share capital |
| Guarantee | A letter of guarantee from a credit institution in Greece or the EU/EEA |
| People | No final conviction of board members, partners or managers for felonies or listed offenses such as fraud, bribery or tax evasion |
| Blacklist | A company on the HGC blacklist of unlicensed providers in the year before applying cannot be licensed |
| Documents | Three years of financial statements, tax and social-security clearances, solvency certificates and a business plan |
Technical requirements
Safe server in Greece
The final data store (the Safe) sits in a data center in Greece, connected to the HGC; the central system and backup can be anywhere in the EU/EEA.
.gr domain
Each licensed site runs on a .gr domain and hosts at most one license of each type.
Certification
Every game needs a game certificate and an integration certificate; a new version counts as a new game.
Security
ISO/IEC 27001 certification, an external security audit at least every 18 months, a yearly penetration test and a vulnerability scan every six months.
RNG limits
RNG games are capped at a €20 stake and €140,000 payout per cycle (jackpots excluded), with two seconds between cycles.
Payments
Only through EU/EEA-authorized payment providers; no cryptocurrency.
How the application runs
The HGC decides within two months of a complete application; no decision in time counts as a refusal. A second HGC decision then authorizes the start of operations.
- 1Entity and capitalEU/EEA company with €200,000 paid-up capital, clean records for board and managers, and the bank guarantee.
- 2Platform and SafeCertified platform and games, safe server in Greece, .gr domain and ISO 27001 security.
- 3ApplicationFiling with the HGC with financial statements, clearances and the business plan; decision within two months.
- 4LicensePayment of the license price, at once or in installments, and grant of the seven-year license.
- 5Go-liveApproved Commercial Communication Plan and the second HGC decision to start operations.
Ongoing obligations
- Monthly 35% GGR tax within 16 days, and withholding of winnings tax
- Notification of share transfers of 2% or more; prior approval for any change of control
- Licensed compliance officer and AML reports by 15 January and 15 July
- Minimum age 21, mandatory deposit and loss limits, and exclusion register checks
- Advertising only under the approved Commercial Communication Plan
- Only HGC-licensed suppliers and registered affiliates
- Security audits, penetration tests and certification of every new game version
How online gambling is taxed
Operator tax
35% of gross gaming revenue, paid monthly within 16 days; poker is taxed on the rake.
Horse-race betting
30% of gross profit.
Players’ winnings
Winnings above €100 are taxed at source, at up to 7.5% on sports bets and up to 30% on casino and poker; Law 5313/2026 amended the rules.
VAT
Online games of chance are exempt from VAT.
Advertising and enforcement
Approved plan
Advertising is allowed only to licensees, under a Commercial Communication Plan approved by the HGC within 30 days.
Restrictions
Bonuses may be offered but not advertised to the public; no paid social media promotion or pop-ups; outdoor ads at least 200 m from schools; mandatory 21+ and addiction warnings.
Blacklist
The HGC blacklist of unlicensed websites, and since 2026 apps, holds about 15,000 entries; internet providers must block them. Suppliers serving blacklisted sites lose their suitability license.
Law 5313/2026
Fines of €1,000 to €2 million per violation for operators, providers and advertisers, €5,000 to €50,000 for influencers, and at least ten years in prison for organizing unlicensed gambling.
Weighing Greece against other EU markets? Our European gambling license comparison covers all 27 member states: which products each licenses, the regulators, B2B rules and Finland's 2027 opening.
Compare EU marketsFrequently asked questions
Who regulates online gambling in Greece?
The Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC, EEEP), under Law 4002/2011 as amended by Law 4635/2019. Lotteries are reserved to the state concessionaires.
What are the Type 1 and Type 2 licenses?
Type 1 covers online betting, including sports, fantasy and virtual betting. Type 2 covers online casino, live casino, slots and poker. One company can hold both, each for seven years.
Can a foreign company get a Greek license?
A company with a registered seat or permanent establishment in Greece or another EU/EEA state can apply. Groups from outside the EU/EEA use an EU/EEA entity.
How much capital is required?
At least €200,000 paid-up share capital, plus a letter of guarantee from a bank in Greece or the EU/EEA.
Do servers have to be in Greece?
The Safe, the final data store connected to the HGC, must be in a data center in Greece. The central system and its backup can be elsewhere in the EU/EEA.
How is online gambling taxed in Greece?
At 35% of gross gaming revenue, paid monthly. Players’ winnings above €100 are also taxed at source, at up to 7.5% on sports bets and up to 30% on casino and poker.
How long does the HGC take?
The HGC decides within two months of a complete application. With company setup, certification and the safe server, plan for 4–8 months.
Do B2B suppliers need a license in Greece?
Yes. Suppliers of technical means, such as platforms, game studios and RNG providers, need an HGC suitability license, and every game must be certified before use.
Can affiliates work with Greek licensees?
Only if they are entered in the HGC Register of Affiliates. Licensees may use only registered affiliates, and promoting unlicensed gambling carries fines under Law 5313/2026.
Can a Malta-licensed operator serve Greek players?
No. Only HGC licensees may offer online gambling in Greece. Unlicensed sites and apps are blacklisted and blocked, and organizing unlicensed gambling is a crime.
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