The ΕΕΕΠ unveils new message and AI platform to regulate gambling in Greece

The Επιτροπή Εποπτείας και Ελέγχου Παιγνίων (ΕΕΕΠ) received on 7 October 2026 a working visit from the Υπουργός Εθνικής Οικονομίας και Οικονομικών, Κυριάκος Πιερρακάκης, to present measures and tools derived from the strengthened legal framework for the regulation of the gambling market in Greece. During the meeting the ΕΕΕΠ explained how it will use that framework for market supervision and player protection, and demonstrated a digital platform based on artificial intelligence to detect and document sites that could operate or promote illegal gambling activities.

Institutional message and priority: player protection

The ΕΕΕΠ has launched the new institutional slogan «Οι κανόνες κάνουν το παιχνίδι» which links market supervision with player protection. The president of the ΕΕΕΠ, Αντώνης Μ. Βαρθολομαίος, explained that licences, provider controls, self-protection tools and rules to protect minors must be made more visible and understandable to the public.

"Η κορυφαία προϋπόθεση για να προστατεύεται ο παίκτης είναι μια ρυθμισμένη αγορά, με σαφείς κανόνες για όλους τους παρόχους", said Αντώνης Μ. Βαρθολομαίος at the close of the meeting.

The Commission's new public message to communicate responsibility and limits is: «Παίζεις; Μόνο με όρια και ασφάλεια!». The ΕΕΕΠ defines limits as the time and money the player sets in advance without risking basic personal or family needs; safety is understood as participation only with legal, authorised operators who are subject to rules and supervision.

Intervention by Minister Κυριάκος Πιερρακάκης and focus on enforcement

The Υπουργός Εθνικής Οικονομίας και Οικονομικών, Κυριάκος Πιερρακάκης, emphasised that the effectiveness of the new framework is judged by its enforcement and by the protection it provides to citizens. In his remarks he stated: "η αποτελεσματικότητα του νέου πλαισίου κρίνεται από την εφαρμογή του και την προστασία που προσφέρει στους πολίτες" and added that popularity does not confer immunity and that influence implies responsibility, referring to the promotion of illegal gambling through social media.

He also called for early detection of illegality through modern digital tools, together with prevention and information actions targeted especially at vulnerable social groups and young people. The ΕΕΕΠ incorporates these lines into its 2026–2030 strategic plan, whose central axis is player protection.

Digital AI platform for monitoring and evidence

During the visit, the ΕΕΕΠ demonstrated a new digital platform that uses Artificial Intelligence technologies to identify, assess and document sites that may offer or promote illicit gambling. The platform supports automated data collection and analysis and helps generate evidentiary material for the Authority's supervised actions.

The system pursues three operational objectives:

• automated detection of potential offenders on the web;

• risk assessment and prioritisation to guide early interventions;

• creation of evidence to support supervisory measures and administrative actions.

The Commission noted that the tool strengthens the capacity for timely intervention and complements the [communication and education programmes](/events) and the work of the Authority in the market.

Educational campaigns and communication aimed at young people

The ΕΕΕΠ also presented an educational programme for pupils and young people using the slogan «Μοιάζει με παιχνίδι, δεν είναι παιχνίδι. Μην τσιμπάς». The initiative seeks to clarify the distinction between gambling and risky behaviour, and is articulated with the new institutional communication to promote responsible participation.

President Βαρθολομαίος explicitly linked the communication to the 2026–2030 strategic plan, noting that the campaign must make clear that the rules are set by the authority and that the player must set their own limit to ensure their safety.

Regulatory implications and next steps

The meeting aimed to demonstrate the ΕΕΕΠ's operations following the approval of the bill that regulates the gambling market and strengthens the Commission. The Authority stressed that effective regulation requires measures visible to the public: clearly identifiable licences, rigorous provider controls, accessible self-protection mechanisms and explicit rules to prevent minors' participation.

The ΕΕΕΠ indicated that practical enforcement of these measures will include exploiting the new AI platform to support inspections and sanctions where appropriate, in addition to information campaigns targeted at vulnerable groups. The president closed by reiterating the basic rule of the institutional approach:

«Εμείς βάζουμε τους κανόνες. Ο παίκτης βάζει το όριό του. Οι κανόνες μας και το όριο του παίκτη είναι η προϋπόθεση για την ασφάλειά του», said Αντώνης Μ. Βαρθολομαίος.

The presentation to the Υπουργός Εθνικής Οικονομίας και Οικονομικών concluded with an explicit commitment to coordinate the digital supervision tools and educational actions to reinforce market integrity and player protection in Greece.

Where to read the updates and the legal framework

The ΕΕΕΠ's public explanation of its strategy and the platform demonstration come after approval of the new legislative package that strengthens the Authority and redefines supervisory obligations in the Greek gambling market. For sector analyses and regulatory follow-up, this phase marks the start of the operational implementation of the ΕΕΕΠ's new powers; readers can consult our coverage for developments in the [regulation](/regulation) of the sector and broader [news](/news) items on the market.

(Reported by Miguel Sandoval, Corresponsal de regulación.)