Greece maintains gaming winnings tax rise that will generate €100m a year
Government defends the July 2026 increase and expects roughly €100m in annual revenue
Key Takeaways
- Greece is maintaining the July 2026 increase to the tax on gaming winnings and expects about €100 million more in annual revenue.
- Tax rates rise from 15% to 20% for winnings of €100–€500 and from 20% to 30% for winnings above €500, with winnings up to €100 exempt.
- Between January and August, taxes on gaming winnings were approximately €369 million, up 27.3% year-on-year, while GGR reached €2.06 billion.
- Authorities estimate an illegal gambling market of about €1.8 billion in 2025, with around 900,000 participants in unlicensed play.
- The Hellenic Gaming Commission announced plans to bolster supervision and to hire 40 temporary staff in October.
The Government of Greece will maintain the increase in the tax on players' winnings that came into force in July 2026, and expects the measure to raise state revenue by approximately €100 millones al año, Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis said. The rise tightens taxation of online casino and poker winnings in two brackets, leaving winnings up to €100 exempt.
Details of the tax change
The new rules raise the tax rate on winnings of €100–€500 from 15% to 20%, and on winnings above €500 from 20% to 30%. Kyriakos Pierrakakis, of the New Democracy party, justified the reform as a means to increase public revenues and finance support measures aimed at households and businesses.
Market impact and recent figures
Statistics published in October show that taxes collected on gaming winnings between January and August reached approximately €369 millones, representing an increase of 27.3% compared with the same period a year earlier. Gross gaming revenue (GGR) rose 4.2% in January–August, to €2.06 billion.
At the same time, authorities warn of a significant illegal market: in 2025 unauthorised gambling activity moved around €1.8 billion, with an estimated 900,000 people participating in unlicensed play.
Control and industry reaction
The Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) has announced plans to reinforce supervisory resources and, in October, said it intends to hire 40 temporary employees. The national operator OPAP and sports betting are subject to a separate tax regime. The employers' association Hellenic Gaming Association (HGA) criticised that licensed companies were not consulted during the preparation of the tax increase and warned it could drive players to unlicensed sites, harming consumer protection and revenue collection.
HGA proposed a package of measures to improve the competitiveness of the regulated market, including stricter payment-blocking measures, higher stake and win limits, and changing the method used to calculate the player tax.
Sources for the original report include articles from SBC News (3.11.2026), European Gaming (8.10.2026) and Powergame (3.6.2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the increase in the tax on gaming winnings take effect in Greece?
The increase came into force in July 2026. The Government has confirmed it will not reverse the measure.
How much does the Greek Government expect to raise from the tax increase?
The Government estimates the reform will raise state revenue by approximately €100 million a year, according to Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis.
How have the tax brackets for gaming winnings changed?
Winnings up to €100 remain exempt; winnings of €100–€500 now face a rate raised from 15% to 20%, and winnings above €500 rise from 20% to 30%.
What recent figures illustrate the effect on revenue and GGR?
Taxes on gaming winnings from January to August totalled about €369 million, up 27.3% year-on-year, while GGR grew 4.2% to €2.06 billion in the same period.
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Miguel Sandoval
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Miguel Sandoval tracks gambling legislation, licensing, and regulator enforcement — from Spain's DGOJ and the Latin American authorities to the UKGC, the MGA, and the state-by-state map in North America. The reports answer three questions precisely — what changed, where, and who it affects — with jurisdictions, dates, and penalties cited exactly as published. Operators and compliance officers read Miguel Sandoval to know which rulebook moved before their next meeting.
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