Frequently Asked Questions
Legality of games & providers
No, not all games of chance are legal in Greece.
The conduct of games of chance is permitted only when specific conditions stipulated by the applicable legislative and regulatory framework are met and the games are provided by entities legally licensed by the HGC.
The HGC, as the competent authority for the regulation, supervision and control of the gambling market, ensures that:
- legal games are conducted with transparency and reliability
- providers comply with licensing conditions and legislation
- gamblers and society as a whole are protected
Games non-licensed by the HGC are considered illegal and should be avoided.
The following are the gambling operators in Greece today:
- The public limited company “Organization of Football Predictions (OPAP S.A.)”.
- The eight (8) casino businesses.
- The public limited company “Hellenic Lotteries S.A.”
- The public limited company “‘Horse Racing S.A.”
- The eighteen (18) companies that have been granted a license to conduct online games of chance of Type 1 (betting) and/or Type 2 (casino rng, live casino, poker) can be viewed here.
To check if a gambling website operates legally in Greece:
- Visit the “Website Legality Checklist“, enter the url and see if it can be found under the list of Licensed providers (WhiteList) or the list of Unlicensed providers (BlackList) of the HGC.
- Check the HGC Blacklist to see if the specific website has been classified as unlicensed.
- Look for licensing information on the website itself, such as the license number and the relevant HGC mark.
See the official HGC lists here:
Choosing licensed providers ensures that you play in a controlled and safe environment.
HGC Blacklist
The HGC BlackList (the list of unlicensed gambling providers) includes websites that conduct or organize unlicensed gambling in Greece (article 48.1.8 of Law 4002/2011 – Official Gazette A’ 180).
Those entered on the BlackList cannot be licensed or participate in any way in a licensed gambling service provider in Greece.
The use of such “blacklists” is common practice in many European countries aiming at combating the illegal provision of gambling.
An online gambling provider is entered into the Blacklist when HGC-conducted inspections establish that:
- they conduct or organize unlicensed gambling in Greece, and
- they are accessible from an IP located in the Greek territory.
Unlicensed providers face a number of penalties:
- They are entered on the HGC Blacklist, resulting in Internet service providers (ISPs) cutting off access to the relevant websites from Greece.
- Credit institutions and payment institutions immediately stop all financial transactions with such providers.
- They cannot obtain an operating license in Greece nor participate in a licensed gaming provider in any way.
Furthermore, the publication of the Blacklist by the HGC constitutes sufficient official information for all involved bodies to implement exclusion and prosecution measures against such illegal activity.
Gamblers can stay informed and protected by following basic practices and making use of the tools provided by the Authority itself:
- They can only choose providers that have a legal license and operate legally in Greece.
- They can check the website url on the HGC website (“Website Legality Check“)
- They can check the Licensed providers list as well as the BlackList (the list of UNLICENSED providers).
- They can avoid websites that operate without supervision, as they do not provide the required security guarantees.
- They can stay informed about the rules of the game and make use of the responsible gaming tools provided for by the regulatory framework. (Responsible Gaming Principles)
- They can submit complaints or reports to the HGC in case they identify illegal activity or encounter a problem.
This way gamblers can be ensured that participation in games of chance takes place in a controlled and safe environment, and that their rights and interests are protected.
According to article 7.1 of Decision 51/3/26.04.2013 decision, “7.1 Natural and legal persons, domain names and/or websites that have been registered in the list of unlicensed providers (black list), must remain registered for a period of at least one (1) year from the date of their registration”.
The request for removal is submitted by the legal entity or administrator of the website(s) to be deleted, signed by the legal representative (see attached relevant application document in Greek and English), along with:
- valid proof of representation
- documents regarding the corporate structure of the website owner
- in the case of management by another company, the documents of the corporate structure of the management company are also submitted
- proof of ownership of the website(s) to be removed
- any other websites owned by the same legal entity also included in the Blacklist
- a detailed account of all websites that are owned, managed or operated by the legal entity.
All documents should be listed as attachments to the request.
It is noted that:
- all access from a Greek IP to any gambling website controlled by the legal entity or administrator must be completely blocked, regardless of the ability to create a player account
- simply accessing an unlicensed gambling website is enough for it to be placed on the Unlicensed Gambling Providers list (Blacklist)
- foreign language documents must be submitted in certified copies, translated into Greek and bearing the Hague stamp (Apostille), as appropriate.
Template of Request for Removal of a Natural Person, Legal Entity/Website/Domain Name from the Blacklist:
Complaints & reports
You can file a complaint when issues arise during your participation in games of chance that are legally conducted in Greece, in order for them to be investigated by the HGC. The complaint is submitted through the dedicated electronic application (https://complaints.hgc.gov.gr/) and must be accompanied by the information required for the case to be examined.
The complaint can be filed through the HGC dedicated electronic application (https://complaints.hgc.gov.gr/), by completing the relevant form and providing the information required for the investigation of the case.
Instructions can be found here.
The complaint submitted must be named and accompanied by specific information and data, so that it can be processed and investigated by the HGC.
Anonymous complaints concern the reporting of suspicious or illegal betting through the “whistlers” process. The aim is to limit illegal gambling networks in Greece, such as:
- Illegal betting websites
- Unlicensed affiliate websites
- Illegal gaming applications/apps
- Illegal land-based gambling venues
After you have completed the information required for the complaint and clicked the “Submit” button, your complaint is sent to the HGC for recording, examination and processing. After the final submission of your complaint, you will be informed of the protocol number your complaint has received, via email to the address you have provided. When the examination of your complaint is complete, you will receive the HGC’s response to the email address you have provided.
Addiction
Gambling addiction, also known as pathological or compulsive gambling, is a behavioral disorder characterized by the individual’s inability to control or stop gambling, despite negative consequences. It often leads to significant personal, financial and social problems.
Problematic gambling is an impulse control disorder characterized by persistent and dysfunctional preoccupation that affects the individual’s daily activities and relationships. According to the American Psychiatric Association (1994): “There is a progressive order in the frequency of gambling, the amount invested, and the obsession with the activity and the acquisition of money.”
It is not always easy to identify a person who is involved in problematic gambling. The signs are subtle, as pathological gamblers are able to hide their addiction. However, their preoccupation is reflected in their behavior, indicating a problematic relationship with gambling.
- Discontinuation of past activities, even change in routine habits (sleep, eating, etc.).
- Neglect of personal hygiene, work, school, family.
- Conflicts due to financial differences.
- Consumption of alcohol or other drugs.
- Thoughts revolving exclusively around the game and irrational opinions formed about it.
- Thefts, in order to secure money for gambling or to pay debts, therefore problems with the law.
- Social and emotional isolation, depression, suicidal tendencies.
- Mood swings and sudden outbursts of anger.
- Everything is attributed to “bad” luck.
- Borrowing, advances, loss of money from deposit accounts, cashing out insurance policies, selling valuable family items.
- Poor physical health, overeating or loss of appetite.
Research shows that young people under the age of 18 participate in gambling despite the fact that it is prohibited by law. Some signs of possible problematic gambling among young people are the following:
- Sudden or gradual decline in school performance.
- Neglecting or quitting other favorite activities.
- Excessive devotion to online gambling sites, sports scores, etc.
- Social withdrawal.
- Disobedience and irritability.
- Offensive behavior.
- Great need for money, borrowing or fraudulently extorting money from friends and family.
In most cases, third persons notice earlier than the player that the latter’s relationship with gambling is starting to become problematic.
What can you do?
- Do not lend money or pay debts to the problematic gambler. This feeds addiction.
- Make it clear that their behavior has implications for your family.
- Show understanding of their situation but not pity. Exercise sound criticism by making it clear that their behavior is unacceptable, without becoming critical and derogatory towards them.
- Consider whether you have the legal right to file a request for exclusion from the casino (process for the exclusion of another person).
- Above all, seek help from experts in order to learn about ways to manage people who are addicted to gambling.
You can evaluate yourself using the following tools:
- Play Gamalyze and discover the way you gamble. It will only take you 3 minutes. Learn your limits before it’s too late. Evaluate your gaming behavior and receive personalized feedback on your gaming choices. Its use is free and anonymous, offering a safe and private evaluation experience.
- Answer the self-assessment questionnaire, which is based on the Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI*). You can evaluate your relationship with gambling and gain a first impression of whether your preoccupation is balanced through 9 short questions.
You can seek help if you think you or a family member or friend has a gambling problem.
Support Bodies
EOPAE 1114
Gambling Advice Line
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS
ATHENS | 3 Themistokleous, 3rd floor (entrance inside the arcade) | P.C. 10677 Athens – Omonia
THESSALONIKI | Odysseos 19, 2nd floor (entrance inside the arcade) | P.C. 54629, Vardaris
Self-exclusion
Player rights
Gamblers are protected by the current national and European regulatory framework (indicatively Law 4002/2011, HGC Regulations, as well as the law on the protection of personal data and financial transactions), which ensures the legality, transparency and security of their participation. In particular, gamblers have, among others, the following basic rights:
- Right to participate in fair and transparent gaming, in accordance with the principles of market transparency and integrity applied by the HGC
(e.g. clear participation conditions, known rules and certified conducting systems). - Right to protection of personal data and transactions, in accordance with European and national law (e.g. GDPR and data security obligations of providers)
- Right to security of money and payment of winnings, as provided for by the regulatory framework for the operation and control of games of chance (Law 4002/2011 and HGC regulations)
(e.g. timely payment of winnings and supervision of the financial management of providers). - Right to protection through responsible gambling measures, in accordance with regulatory obligations of providers to prevent addiction
(e.g. deposit limits, participation time limits, self-exclusion). - Right to protection from illegal or misleading practices, within the framework of the market supervision and control by the HGC
(e.g. operation of only licensed providers and control of Commercial Communication). - Right to submit complaints and resolve disputes, through the prescribed procedures and the competent authority
(e.g. possibility of recourse to the provider or the HGC for examination of requests).
The above rights are part of the broader regulatory framework protecting gamblers and ensuring the smooth and legal operation of the gambling market.
Fair and unbiased gaming is ensured through the regulatory framework that regulates the honest conduct of games, as well as through compliance checks carried out on providers.
You can submit a named complaint to the HGC through the dedicated electronic application for issues arising from your participation in games. The complaint must be accompanied by the necessary information to enable its investigation.