Greece Stands by July 2026 Increase to Players' Gambling Winnings Tax
Finance minister says reform will raise about €100 million a year while regulators step up enforcement.
Key Takeaways
- Greece implemented a rise in the tax on player winnings in July 2026 and will not reverse it.
- The reform keeps wins up to €100 tax-free, raises €100–€500 wins from 15% to 20% and raises over-€500 wins from 20% to 30%.
- The government expects the tax change to increase annual revenue by about €100 million.
- January–August 2026 tax receipts on gambling winnings were about €369 million, up 27.3% year-on-year.
- The Hellenic Gaming Commission reported the illegal market was about €1.8 billion in 2025 and plans to hire 40 temporary staff.
Greece's government will not reverse the player winnings tax increase that came into force in July 2026, Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis said, and the change is expected to raise about €100 million in annual tax revenue. The measure tightened taxation on online casino and poker winnings across two income bands while leaving prizes up to €100 tax-free.
What the reform changed
The reform, announced and implemented by the Greek government in July 2026, adjusted tax rates on net winnings from online casino games and poker. Winnings up to €100 remain exempt from tax. For winnings between €100 and €500 the tax rate rose from 15% to 20%, and for winnings above €500 the rate increased from 20% to 30%. Betting products operated by the national gambling operator OPAP and other sports-betting products are subject to separate taxation.
Expected yield and recent tax receipts
The Finance Minister, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, told reporters the policy is intended to increase public revenues and help fund measures for households and businesses; the government expects the change to generate roughly €100 million per year. Published statistics for January–August 2026 show that taxes collected on Greek gambling winnings totalled about €369 million, an increase of 27.3% compared with the same period in 2025. Gross gaming revenue for the market rose 4.2% year-on-year to €2.06 billion in January–August 2026.
Market size, illegality and enforcement
Greece's illegal gambling market remains substantial by European standards. The Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) reported that roughly €1.8 billion moved through illegal gambling in 2025 and estimated around 900,000 people participated in unauthorised gambling that year. To counter illicit activity, the Hellenic Gaming Commission said in October 2026 it would recruit 40 temporary staff to strengthen supervisory capacity. The commission is pursuing stronger enforcement alongside the tax change. Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP)
Industry response
The Hellenic Gaming Association (HGA) criticised the government for not consulting licensed operators during preparation of the tax increase and warned that higher taxes could push players to unlicensed sites, weakening consumer protection and potentially reducing state revenue. The HGA proposed a package of measures to boost the competitiveness of the legal market, including tougher payment-blocking, higher stake and prize limits, and changes to how the player tax is calculated. Hellenic Gaming Association OPAP
Sources cited in the reporting include SBC News (3 November 2026), European Gaming (8 October 2026) and Powergame (3 June 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Greece's player winnings tax increase take effect?
The tax increase came into force in July 2026. The change tightened rates on online casino and poker winnings across two bands while leaving prizes up to €100 tax-free.
What are the new tax rates on gambling winnings in Greece?
Winnings from €100 to €500 are now taxed at 20%, up from 15%, and winnings above €500 are taxed at 30%, up from 20%. Prizes up to €100 remain exempt.
How much additional revenue does the Greek government expect from the tax change?
The government expects the reform to raise about €100 million a year. Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis presented the increase as a means to fund support measures for households and businesses.
What recent figures show the state of Greece's gambling market?
Taxes on gambling winnings were about €369 million in January–August 2026, a 27.3% increase year-on-year, and market gross gaming revenue rose 4.2% to €2.06 billion for the same period.
What steps are Greek authorities taking against illegal gambling?
The Hellenic Gaming Commission said in October 2026 it would recruit 40 temporary employees to boost oversight. The commission reported the illegal market moved about €1.8 billion in 2025 with roughly 900,000 participants.
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About the author
Eleanor Whitfield
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Eleanor Whitfield tracks gambling legislation, licensing decisions, and regulator enforcement across key markets — from the UKGC, MGA, and Germany's GGL to Spain's DGOJ and the state-by-state map in the Americas. The reporting answers three questions precisely: what changed, where, and who it affects, with jurisdictions, effective dates, and penalty figures named exactly as published. Compliance officers and operators read Eleanor Whitfield to know which rulebook moved before their next board meeting.
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