Is Poker Legal in Greece? HGC Online Poker Laws 2026
Last updated: May 27, 2026
Online poker has been fully legal in Greece since October 2011 under Law 4002/2011, making Greece one of the earlier EU nations to establish a regulated online gambling market. The EEEP (Hellenic Gaming Commission) licenses approximately 13 operators including PokerStars.gr, Betsson, and Stoiximan. Unlike Ireland, Greece taxes player winnings — a 15% withholding tax applies to net winnings above €100 per day, withheld automatically by licensed operators. Live poker is available across 9 licensed land casinos including Casino Mont Parnès and Casino Regency.
Greek Poker Legal Status by Activity
Greece operates a licensed online gambling market with strict enforcement against unlicensed operators. The EEEP maintains a blacklist of illegal sites and requires Greek ISPs to block access. Private poker clubs are not permitted — all live poker takes place at licensed land casinos.
Law 4002/2011 — Greece's Online Gambling Framework
Greece was among the first wave of EU member states to fully legalize and regulate online gambling, doing so in October 2011 through Law 4002/2011. The legislation established the EEEP (Hellenic Gaming Commission) as the dedicated regulator and created a multi-license system allowing multiple private operators to serve Greek players — a more competitive approach than monopoly models adopted by some countries.
The Greek market has approximately 13 licensed online operators as of 2026, covering poker, casino games, sports betting, and horse racing betting. Operators must obtain separate licenses for different product categories — a poker license does not automatically cover casino games or sports betting. License fees and GGR taxes are substantial: operators pay 35% GGR tax in addition to license fees, making Greece one of the higher-tax online gambling markets in the EU.
Poker Tax in Greece — 15% Withholding on Net Winnings
Greece is one of the EU countries that taxes player winnings directly. The 15% withholding tax applies to net winnings above €100 per day per licensed online operator. Unlike some countries where players must self-report, Greek operators withhold the tax automatically at source. Here is the full breakdown:
Online Poker (daily net ≤ €100)
0% Tax
Net daily winnings up to €100 per licensed operator are not taxed. If your session profit is €100 or less for the day at one operator, no withholding tax applies.
Online Poker (daily net > €100)
15% Withheld
15% withholding tax on net winnings above the €100 daily threshold per operator, automatically deducted by the licensed operator. Example: €300 net win → tax on €200 excess → €30 withheld, €270 credited.
Land Casino Poker
5% Charge
Land casino poker is subject to a 5% charge on rake or table charges at Greek casinos. Professional players declaring casino poker as income may face additional income tax at up to 44% marginal rate.
Professional Players
Up to 44% Income Tax
Players deriving primary income from poker must declare earnings to AADE (Greek tax authority). Greek income tax rates are progressive, reaching a 44% marginal rate for high earners, in addition to social contributions. Specialist advice strongly recommended.
Compared to Ireland and the Netherlands — where recreational players pay no tax on poker winnings — Greece is significantly less favourable. The 15% withholding applies at relatively low thresholds (€100/day), meaning even moderate winning sessions are taxed. Italy has a similar structure; Romania taxes above a higher annual threshold. Players considering poker tourism should factor Greek taxation into their planning.
Online Poker in Greece — Licensed Operators
The Greek online poker market operates as a closed national market. Greek players access operator-specific Greek domains (e.g., PokerStars.gr) and play in ring-fenced pools that include Greek players from licensed operators. This affects liquidity compared to international player pools — smaller MTT fields and fewer high-stakes cash game options than on global platforms.
Live Poker in Greece — Casinos and Venues
Greece has 9 licensed land casinos, all of which are authorized to offer poker games. Unlike countries such as Ireland that permit private licensed card clubs, all legal live poker in Greece takes place within licensed casino premises — private poker clubs are explicitly prohibited.
Casino Mont Parnès, perched on Mount Parnitha above Athens and accessible by cable car, is the most iconic Greek poker destination. Casino Regency in Thessaloniki is the flagship northern venue. Greece's island casinos — particularly Casino Rodos and Casino Corfu — attract significant seasonal poker traffic from both residents and international tourists during summer months.
Definitions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is online poker legal in Greece?
Yes — online poker has been fully legal in Greece since October 2011, when Law 4002/2011 (the Gambling Law) came into force. Approximately 13 licensed operators serve Greek players under licenses issued by EEEP (the Hellenic Gaming Commission). Licensed operators include PokerStars.gr, Betsson, Stoiximan, and Novibet. Greek players must use EEEP-licensed operators — unlicensed sites face domain blocking and players using them face potential fines.
What is EEEP?
EEEP stands for Επιτροπή Εποπτείας και Ελέγχου Παιγνίων — the Hellenic Gaming Commission (also referred to as HGC). It is Greece's gambling regulator, operating under the Ministry of Finance. EEEP issues licenses to online gambling operators, monitors compliance, enforces player protection requirements, maintains the TAXIS self-exclusion system, and administers penalties against unlicensed operators including domain blocking. EEEP was empowered by Law 4002/2011 to regulate the newly liberalized online gambling market.
How are poker winnings taxed in Greece?
Online poker winnings in Greece are subject to a 15% withholding tax on net winnings above €100 per day per licensed operator. This tax is automatically withheld at source by licensed operators — you do not need to file separately for this amount. Net winnings are calculated as total winnings minus total wagers per session per operator per day. If you win €200 and wagered €50, the taxable net is €150; 15% of €150 = €22.50 withheld. Professional players declaring poker as primary income may face additional Greek income tax at marginal rates up to 44%.
What is the 15% withholding tax on poker winnings?
The 15% withholding tax applies to net winnings above €100 per day per licensed online operator in Greece. 'Net winnings' means your profit for that day at that operator — total cash-outs minus total buy-ins. The tax is automatically withheld by the licensed operator before winnings are credited to your account, so you receive the net post-tax amount. This withholding tax does not eliminate income tax obligations for professional players — players whose primary income is poker should consult a Greek tax specialist.
Where can I play live poker in Greece?
Greece has 9 licensed land casinos, several of which offer poker rooms. Casino Mont Parnès in the Athens suburbs (accessible by cable car from the Parnitha foothills) is the flagship Athens-area venue with regular poker cash games. Casino Regency in Thessaloniki is the premier northern Greece venue. Island casinos including Casino Rodos (Rhodes) and Casino Corfu (Achillion Palace) offer seasonal poker for tourists and local players. Private poker clubs are not permitted in Greece — all legal live poker must take place at licensed casinos.
Is OPAP related to poker?
OPAP (Οργανισμός Προγνωστικών Αγώνων Ποδοσφαίρου) is Greece's largest gambling operator, holding a historical monopoly on land-based sports betting, lotteries, and certain gaming formats. OPAP has a dominant market position in sports betting and lottery products. While OPAP operates some gaming terminals and has expanded into online betting, it is not the primary poker operator — PokerStars.gr and other EEEP-licensed specialists lead the dedicated online poker market. OPAP's significance is primarily in sports betting and lottery where its market position remains strong.
Can I use unlicensed poker sites from Greece?
Using unlicensed poker sites from Greece is illegal. EEEP maintains a blacklist of unlicensed operators and Greek ISPs are required to block access to these sites. Players caught using unlicensed sites can face substantial fines. Additionally, winnings from unlicensed sites are legally unprotected — in a dispute, players have no regulatory recourse. EEEP-licensed operators offer security, fair play certification, and player protection. The strong enforcement stance means unlicensed play carries meaningful legal and practical risk in Greece.
Poker Legal Status by Country
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