Greece's gaming regulator starts hiring 40 staff for new Inspection and Enforcement unit

The Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) has been given a budget to begin recruiting for its new Inspection and Enforcement division. The unit will have 40 positions and will oversee enforcement of Greek laws against illegal gambling. Eligible applicants include permanent public employees, staff of qualifying public bodies and employees of private-sector IT organisations.

The hiring follows a strengthened legal framework against illegal gambling that Greece adopted in June, led by Minister of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis. The reforms target a black market that, according to figures Pierrakakis presented on 6 October, accounted for about €1.8bn (£1.5bn) in gambling activity in 2025 and involved around 900,000 people. Earlier ministry estimates based on 2024 research put illegal activity at €1.67bn, with annual losses to state revenue of roughly €500m.

The legislation raises criminal penalties. Conducting illegal games of chance carries prison sentences of at least 10 years and fines of €50,000 to €700,000. Aggravated offences include professional or commercial-scale operations, the involvement of minors and reopening premises after an enforcement closure. These carry fines of €100,000 to €800,000 alongside imprisonment of at least 10 years.

The Inspection and Enforcement unit will be granted special investigative powers. These extend the response beyond blocking websites and support investigations into the people and networks behind illegal gambling. Pierrakakis has also pointed to digital tools and artificial intelligence that are used to map illegal networks, identify websites and trace promotional channels. The aim is to combine technical disruption with investigative work that can support criminal proceedings.

Early enforcement action includes complaints against 18 influencers over alleged promotion of illegal gambling on social media. Those cases are in preliminary investigation. Pierrakakis criticised social media platforms for failing to stop illegal gambling content. The Finance Minister is also in talks with the Ministry of Justice on new cross-agency coordination measures intended to ensure the prosecution of individuals and criminal gangs involved in black-market gambling.