The Greek government is defending a tax increase on online casino winnings that takes effect on July 1, 2026, despite criticism from part of the gambling industry. Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis confirmed the decision, and the money, he said, will go to public services and support for households.
From July 1, 2026, the rate on winnings between €100 and €500 rises from 15% to 20%. Winnings above €500 are now taxed at 30% instead of 20%, while payouts up to €100 remain tax-free.
In March, when Pierrakakis first announced the measure in a ministerial speech, he estimated the boost to state revenue at about €100 million a year.
According to data published in October, taxes withheld from gambling winnings for January to August 2026 totaled €369 million, against €290 million a year earlier. Total GGR for the same period grew 4.2% to €2.06 billion. The figures cover the entire market, and the contribution of the July increase is not broken out.
The new rate applies to online casino games, slots and poker. It does not extend to sports betting, and OPAP products remain under a separate tax regime. Operators already pay a 35% tax on GGR, so players now carry an extra burden on top of that levy.
Liability for illegal gambling is also tightening. Providers, advertisers and other third parties linked to illegal games can face fines of up to €2 million per violation. Bloggers and other online personalities who promote such games risk fines of €5,000 to €50,000. Organizers of illegal gambling face a minimum of 10 years in prison and fines of €50,000 to €700,000.
The government expects around €50 million from the new rate in the second half of 2026 and €100 million a year from 2027. The first full figures will appear when the Finance Ministry publishes statistics for the period after July 1.
