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Officially known as the Hellenic Republic, Greece is situated in southeastern Europe and comprises thousands of islands throughout the Aegean and Ionian seas.
Often referred to as the cradle of ancient civilization, it is a country that is at once European, Balkan, Mediterranean, and Near Eastern.
Despite the fact that it is not one of the largest countries in the world (in fact, it occupies position number 97 according to the Worldometer), it boasts a well-developed land-based and iGaming regulatory frameworks.
Although online gambling in Greece had been banned for a long time by decades-long blanket prohibition, the situation changed in August 2020. Following a series of regulatory decisions by the Minister of Financial Affairs, the framework for interactive gambling was completed. Only a month later, a public invitation for licenses was issued, paving the way for the development of the iGaming sector of the country.
The gambling industry in Greece is supervised and regulated by the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC), which has been operating much longer than the interactive industry itself. Established in 2004, the Hellenic Gaming Commission represents the administrative authority in charge of regulation, supervision, and audit of all gambling activities within the country.
Striving to ensure legal and fair gaming activities, this institution puts efforts to keep the environment free from any negative effects-financial, legal, and social.
Setting commitment, compliance, respect, integrity, credibility, professionalism, responsibility, social responsibility initiative, cooperation, and empathy as its core values, the regulator is determined to establish a safe, well-protected, and entertaining gaming environment.
To consolidate its international presence and maintain its competence in the field, HGC entered strategic agreements with regulatory institutions from other countries. European Commission aside, the Commission also collaborates with the Gaming Regulators European Forum (GREF) and the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR).
Overview of Gambling Regulation in Greece
Although it came in 2020, online gambling in Greece has actually been legal since 2011. While the initial idea was that the system should work on the basis of public tenders, the sector used to function based on a transitory regime.
According to this regime, operators who were accredited on behalf of any country in the European Economic Area (EEA) would be permitted to continue offering their services to Greek players. As great as it sounded, it came with a condition- they were supposed to pay taxes for the past profits. At that time, 24 whitelisted online casinos were eligible to offer their products and services to local consumers.
Continuing to improve the system, the country came up with some notable modifications but decided to keep the public invitation for online gambling applications. Under the newly established regime, operators who’ve acquired their approvals would also be required to apply and obtain a valid license, otherwise they would be required to cease the business.
Laying the grounds for the well-arranged iGaming market in Greece, the 2020 regulatory framework turned out to be more all-encompassing in terms of effective supervisory. Compared to the transitory regime, which relied on the fragmentary approach, the new system put an end to legal uncertainty regarding the status of online gambling in the country.
What’s even more, the new framework also made it clear that the formerly state-owned monopoly OPAP SA lacked the adequate legal basis that would enable it the provide iGaming services. It was also concluded that the transitory regime which saw 24 operators greenlighted to run business locally was unconstitutional, but this decision was later overturned.
When it comes to genres of games regulated by the HGC, they are divided into two main groups:
- Games of chance
- Electronic amusement games
Those in which luck plays a crucial role in determining the outcome are labeled as games of chance. In these games, randomness is achieved by using a Random Number Generator (RNG) or some similar mechanism. Such games are lotteries, betting, and number games as well as typical casino games, for example poker, roulette, blackjack, and similar.
Games that include hardware and gaming software on top of supportive electronics and similar mechanisms are considered electronic amusement games. Tetris, Pacman, and simulation games fall into this category.
Licenses & Certifications
Depending on which types of games they offer, operators can apply for one of the two gaming licenses, or even for both. Those are:
- Type 1- license for online betting and/or
- Type 2- for online games of chance
Renewable after 7 years, a Type 1 license encompasses any type of real events, such as fantasy sports, RNG-based virtual events, and in general all types of activities that classify as betting.
The fee for obtaining this type of license is EUR 3 million, and so is for renewal.
Covering all types of poker, whether RNG-based or hosted by a live dealer, including cash games and tournaments, the Type 2 license has a notably smaller fee of EUR 2 million. This is the cost for renewal as well. Just like Type 1, Type 2 is valid for 7 years.
For land-based sector, there are six subcategories (A, B, C, D, E, and F) depending on the type of facility itself and the permitted number of machines. Venue types may include exclusively gaming facilities, mixed facilities, sea-going vessels, as well as sea-going vessels under the Greek flag, but sailing internationally.
Finally, certificates can also be classified as simple type casino licenses and wider range casino licenses. Facilities with at least 3 stars/3 keys which include shops and similar units belong to simple type casino licensees. Those that include larger infrastructure such as conference halls, therapy centers, golf course facilities, and so on are wider-range casino licensees.
The lattermost two types of licenses have a much longer validity period- 15 years for simple-type casino certificates and 30 years for wider-range casino licenses.
So, one operator can be the holder of both types of licenses (Type 1 and Type 2), provided that it meets the necessary conditions. It’s important to note that licenses cannot be transferred (as a whole or in part). The license holder is strictly prohibited from leasing its approval or operating jointly with third parties.
Provided that all conditions are met, and fees paid, the license is usually granted two months after the application has been submitted. The assessment process includes a thorough evaluation of financial and technical standing.
Speaking of, it’s interesting to mention that installation, repair, necessary upgrades and maintenance of both accredited games and gaming machines can be conducted by technicians with adequate HGC certificates. At their own request, technicians can acquire certificates for some of the following specialties: VLT gaming machines, games of chance, electronic amusement games, or gaming machines of electronic amusement games.
Another important thing to mention is that penalties for unlawful gambling are drastic, encompassing both imprisonment and monetary fines. Imprisonment ranges between one and 10 years (or up to 15 years, in case of illegal provision of non-recreational/skill games), whereas a monetary fine can amount to EUR 700,000.
Responsible Gambling & Player Protection Measures
Gambling addiction represents a problem not only for the person that’s affected directly but its family, relatives, and friends as well. Excessive indebtedness aside, problems include depression, feelings of regret and guilt, which often result in numerous domestic problems and criminal activities.
As a regulator that prioritizes responsible gambling, the Hellenic Gaming Commission aims to take the necessary steps to mitigate the effects that result from excessive consummation and exposure to gambling.
Research and studies are conducted on a regular basis, aiming to keep track of the situation, and react on time if and when necessary. In addition to this, the regulator publishes programs on a regular basis to raise awareness of the effects of gambling.
Its e-ASSOS platform is equipped with a variety of helpful tools, as well as insightful guides that aim to educate players on how to keep things on the entertainment side.
Upon visiting the regulator’s official webpage, players shall encounter two separate lists that aim to make the selection procedure significantly simpler. Worth noting is that both of them encompass not only land-based but online venues as well.
There’s a whitelist, which features all licensed gambling operators alongside accredited gaming machines, games, venues, and professionals included in the gambling. The other is the blacklist, which contains the names of unauthorized gambling service providers.
How to Find the Best Greece-Licensed Online Casino?
So, when looking where to deposit and play, a player should, ideally, stick with platforms licensed on behalf of the Greek gambling regulator. If that’s not the case, any certified operator would do, as long as Greek players are accepted per its Terms and Conditions.
When it comes to games, providers that craft content that meets the demands of consumers from Greece include Red Rake, Wazdan, SYNOT Games, Endorphina, Green Jade Games, Stakelogic, Spinomenal, Relax Gaming, and Real Dealer Studios among others. If you feel like exploring multiple genres, pick casinos that offer slots, table and live games, video poker, crash games, game shows, and sports betting- in a word, as many genres as possible.
If you’re looking to claim some bonuses, also check the possible country restrictions and limitations that have to do with payment methods. Speaking of, cards and e-wallets represent the most popular banking methods among local players, so focus on casinos with well-equipped cashiers.
Other details to pay attention to include customer support, cross-platform optimization, and available languages. Once all these factors are inspected, you can be 100% sure that you’ve done all that’s in your power to contribute to a safe and entertaining online casino experience.
Have fun & gamble responsibly!
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