The Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) is the authority responsible for developing, maintaining, and implementing the regulatory framework governing the gambling market in Greece. Through a modern and adaptive regulatory approach, the Authority establishes clear rules, standards, and technical requirements that promote legality, transparency, integrity, and consumer protection across the sector.
Operating within a rapidly evolving technological and business environment, the HGC continuously reviews and enhances its regulatory framework to address emerging challenges, incorporate international best practices, and respond effectively to new risks and opportunities.
Social responsibility lies at the heart of the HGC’s mission and is embedded in all aspects of its regulatory and supervisory activities. The Authority is committed to preventing and mitigating gambling-related harm, protecting vulnerable groups, promoting responsible gambling, and fostering a culture of accountability among market participants.
Through evidence-based regulation, effective supervision, and close cooperation with stakeholders, the HGC actively contributes to the creation of a safe, transparent, and socially responsible gaming environment. By balancing market development with consumer protection, the Authority strengthens public trust and supports the sustainable growth of the gambling sector for the benefit of society, the economy, and the public interest.
Regulatory work
The Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) is the competent authority responsible for developing, maintaining, and implementing the regulatory framework governing the gambling market in Greece. Through its regulatory activities, the Authority establishes the rules, standards, and technical requirements that ensure gambling and permitted technical-amusement games are conducted in a lawful, transparent, secure, and fair manner, safeguarding players, protecting the public interest, and promoting confidence in the market. The HGC's regulatory work is designed to respond effectively to the dynamic nature of the gaming industry. As technologies, business models, and consumer behaviours continue to evolve, the Authority continuously reviews and updates the regulatory framework to address emerging challenges and opportunities. This includes adapting to technological innovation, strengthening oversight of digital gaming activities, and addressing risks associated with illegal gambling, money laundering, cybersecurity threats, and the use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. The development of the regulatory framework is guided by evidence-based decision-making and informed by market monitoring, risk assessment, scientific research, and stakeholder engagement. Through ongoing collaboration with national authorities, international regulatory bodies, industry participants, and academic experts, the HGC ensures that its regulations remain effective, proportionate, and aligned with international best practices.
Principles of regulation
The regulatory activities of the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) are founded on a set of core principles that ensure its interventions are effective, proportionate, evidence-based, and aligned with the public interest. Established by HGC Decision 8/6/25.05.2012, these principles form the cornerstone of the Commission's regulatory approach and guide the development, implementation, and evaluation of the regulatory framework governing the gambling market.
Social responsibility
Protecting society is a core mission of the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) and is embedded in all aspects of its regulatory, supervisory, and enforcement activities. The HGC's role extends beyond ensuring the legality and proper functioning of the gambling market; it also encompasses the protection of citizens, the prevention of gambling-related harm, and the promotion of responsible gambling practices.
Law Library and Regulatory Framework
The HGC Law Library is a specialized repository of legal information for the gaming market in Greece.
Horizontal Application Regulations
The Horizontal Regulations comprise the regulatory acts issued by the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) that apply to all supervised entities, irrespective of the type of gambling activities they organize, operate, or conduct.
Special Regulations
The Special Regulations comprise the regulatory acts issued by the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) that apply to specific categories of gambling activities and supervised entities, according to the nature of the services they provide. These Regulations establish the specific rules, conditions, and requirements governing the organization, operation, conduct, and supervision of particular gambling sectors, including online gaming, numerical lotteries, state lotteries, mutual horse-race betting, Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) gaming, land-based casinos, and electronic technical-amusement games.
HGC guidelines
The Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) issues Guidelines to promote the consistent interpretation, application, and implementation of the legal and regulatory framework governing the gambling market. The Guidelines provide explanatory and interpretative guidance, clarifications, and practical instructions to supervised entities, supporting the uniform application of regulatory requirements and strengthening legal certainty within the sector.
Evaluation of Commercial Communication Plans
The evaluation of Commercial Communication Plans is a key regulatory and supervisory mechanism used by the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) to ensure that gaming-related communications comply with the applicable legal and regulatory framework, as well as the principles of responsible gaming. Through this process, the HGC assesses the content, form, and proposed delivery of commercial communications to ensure that they are lawful, transparent, socially responsible, and aligned with the objectives of player protection and public interest.