The cradle of the world’s first democracy, modern Greece has pretty illiberal views on the idea of gambling.
Played by the mighty Olympians, engaging dice games are a significant part of Greek mythology etched in eternity by ancient authors and philosophers. Ages ago, rolling two sixes was romantically called “the throw of Aphrodite” and would indicate the winner.
As the backbone of the industry in Hellas …
… nine land-based casinos are the only places where gambling is officially legal. In the best tradition of Vegas jackpot entertainment, these luxurious venues attract crowds of tourists and generate impressive revenues.
When it comes to online fun, things are a bit complicated due to the inconsistent Government policy and disjointed approach. Namely, in 2002 all forms of electronic gaming were banned – the Law 3037/2002 was so ambiguous that even Playstation and Xbox became illegal in internet cafes.
Under the pressure of the EU, Greece had to relax its legislation but, unfortunately, there remains a long way to go in order to bring it in line with the standards of the European Commission. Although in 2011, a number of licenses for gambling websites were issued, official Athenes reconsidered the matter soon afterward.
In addition to that, very high taxes imposed for foreign companies simply scared away the majority of interested offshore operators.
Online Gambling Laws in Greece
In Greece, all aspects of both land-based and online gambling activities are regulated by Law 4002/2011 amended several times in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
It permits poker, sports betting, casino games, slots, VLTs, bingo, and lotteries and establishes the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) as the competent authority responsible for issuing licenses, and for monitoring the implementation and operation of games of chance throughout the country.
Actually, the terms of licensing …
… became the subject of dispute between Greece and the European Commission.
The latter was displeased by the requirement of mandatory domain .gr for all websites planning to cater to Greek punters, as well as the state monopoly across the gambling industry.
With lots of ups and downs on the way to sustainable legislation able to normally regulate the market, finally, at the beginning of 2019, the Greek government submitted to the EC a list of long-awaited reforms. Created in cooperation with EEEP, it covers sports betting and table games but for unclear reasons omits RNG-powered products.
Anyway, seen as a big step forward, the proposals provide for a decent system for licensing and organizing games of luck, which let us hope for the starting of a new era in the history of gambling in Greece.
Getting Started with Greek Online Casino Action
While awaiting the finalization of a legal framework for the iGaming in the country, a vast number of gambling platforms cater to the players from Greece. What’s more, many of them offer their complete services in Greek.
That means if you relish the golden beaches and azure waters of this amazing European country, there is no need to deprive yourself of not less thrilling fun: sophisticated one-armed bandits or one of the timeless casino classics.
Regardless of whether you fancy ...
... double-zero American or single-zero French roulette, you will be able to find your favorite title online. It also holds true for all conceivable variants of blackjack and poker, as well as for three versions (Mini, Midi, Full-Size) of baccarat.
The collection of games is, undoubtedly, important but still, it is far from being the only factor to consider when choosing a place to open an account. Do not skip the reviews below, because they are intended to help you make the right decision based on various essential aspects: credibility of the site, payment options, quality of customer support and so on.