Greece Casinos
Greece Online Casinos
Greece is finally ready to join other European countries in running its own fully regulated gambling industry. A move that has been over a decade in the works was finally completed in the summer of 2021. Online gambling in Greece is now a fully regulated industry, and we’re here to explain it all to you.
Our team has put together an in-depth list of all the very best online casinos you can choose from if you live in Greece. Moreover, they’ve also looked at other aspects of the online gambling world, from sportsbooks to poker rooms, bingo domains and more. Join us as we explain how Greece’s gambling regulations work and what it means for you when you want to bet online. Let us begin by looking at some of the top online casinos you can join in Greece today.
Best Real Money Online Casinos for Greek Players
Is It Legal to Gamble Online in Greece?
For years, people have asked, “is online casino gambling legal in Greece?”. As of the summer of 2021, you no longer need to wonder. Since 2010, work has been afoot to overturn the 2002 blanket ban on gambling. In 2011, the authorities took the most basic set of steps to create legal gambling sites in Greece by handing out temporary licenses. In July 2021, the move to a fully regulated industry was completed, with all legit Greek online casinos now sporting proper, long-term licenses from the Hellenic Gaming Commission. This ends a decade of state-run monopolies over betting sites.
The primary driving force behind the move was the amount of taxable revenue the Greek authorities were missing out on. For instance, in 2016, only €60,000 was raised, despite a state monopoly being in place. It was clear that Greek players were still betting, but they were doing so at so-called offshore betting sites.
In a bid to reverse this, Greece decided to model their gambling regulations on the hugely successful UK Gambling Commission. The result is that in 2021, the monopoly was ended, and fifteen licenses were awarded to operators. The new legislation may prevent foreign operators from catering to Greek players in the long term. However, for the time being, the seven-year licenses have no such restrictions.
To better explain the scenario, let us look at each of the major types of gambling venues you can choose to visit when playing from Greece.
Online Casino
As of 2021, the only legit Greece online casinos are those that hold a license issued by the Hellenic Gaming Commission. At the time of writing, there are fifteen of these, but more are in the pipeline. These operators must pay €2 million to obtain a seven-year license. They must also adhere to the security and safety terms (consisting of numerous player protections) designed for Greek players. At present, Greece has not issued blocks or bans on foreign and international offshore casinos, but it is expected to start issuing such blacklists or banning those sites in the immediate future.
Online Poker
Online poker games are deemed legal in Greece, again, if the site you choose to play at has an HGC-issued gambling license. Until recently, poker games were run by state monopoly OPAP. To date, Greece has not issued licenses to any dedicated poker rooms, but poker games can be found at internet casinos catering to the Greek market.
Online Sports Betting
Sports betting is fully licensed and regulated. However, given that the levels of corruption previously found in Greek football, it is no surprise to see that sports betting licenses cost more than online casino licenses, at €3 million a pop. They are also valid for seven years. Greek players can currently choose to play at state-licensed bookmakers or at offshore betting sites. Again, it is unclear how long Greek players will be permitted to play at the letter over HGC licensed sports betting sites.
Online Lottery
The national lottery remains the plaything of the state monopoly, OPAP. Greece is not a member of major European lottos, such as the EuroMillions and Euro Jackpot. For this reason, the Tzoker lottery is the only legal lottery game permitted. However, the lottery game is deemed to be one of the worst in the world in terms of odds, and given OPAP’s lacklustre reputation amongst Greek players, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them lose this privilege in favour of a new national lottery operator in the future.
Online Bingo
Bingo games are legal in Greece, too. OPAP has never run bingo games, essentially paving the way for online casinos to take over these games. For a bingo game to be legal, it must be based entirely on luck, and there must be a bet under the terms of Article 25 of Greece’s gambling laws. Few licensed Greek operators have chosen to offer bingo games (there doesn’t seem to be a market for them in the country). Therefore, most Greek players who fancy playing bingo head to offshore operators to play.
History of Gambling in Greece
Gambling (in some form) goes all the way back to the foundations of ancient Greece. Of course, when we have a country as old and historic as Greece, there is a lot of gambling history that is shrouded in mystery. We’ve tried to unravel fact from fiction to explain it as clearly as possible for you below:
- Ancient Greece: We know for sure that one of ancient Greece’s earliest gambling games was Heads or Tails. More commonly used to make decisions rather than a gambling game today, Greeks did wager on this. Pitch and Toss (throwing coins against a wall) was another favourite until Palamedes reportedly invented dice at the Siege of Troy. Gambling would also take place (albeit covertly) at the Olympic Games.
- 1900s: While gambling continuing in Greece throughout the Roman era, Middle Ages and through to the last century, information about the games played are sketchy, and it is best to omit them. We do know that when the Olympic Games were revived, gambling came to the attention of the country’s authorities once more. Attempts were made to hinder it, but these were unsuccessful.
- 1960s: The oldest casino in Greece was founded. The Mont Parnes Regency Casino in Athens takes the plaudits. Located in the National Forest of Parnitha, the casino was the venue of the rich and famous in the region. However, for most Greeks, gambling in the second part of the Twentieth Century mainly consisted of sports betting outlets and local, underground venues.
- 2002: Frustrated with the rise of online gambling, Greece decided to ban all forms of online gambling. The blanket ban was viewed as a simpler solution to the perils of online gambling rather than enforcing regulations. Online video games (like chess) also fall under the ban.
- 2008: Having been referred to the European Court of Justice in 2005, Greece looks to tap into the revenues of online gambling, particularly after the financial crisis. New laws to regulate gambling and raise revenue were looked at in 2010.
- 2011: The new gambling law passes. It creates a state monopoly (OPAP) to take over gambling. Temporary licenses are issued to a handful of operators, but OPAP retains control. OPAP is deemed unsuitable for the purpose, and many Greek players flock to offshore casinos, where the games are fairer.
- 2013: The European Court of Justice hears the cases of many offshore operators and deems Greece’s monopoly illegal. A Greek court defends the monopoly. However, after only €60,000 is paid in revenue from OPAP, the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) is designed to take over.
- 2020: New laws are drafted and passed. This will give complete control of regulation to the HGC.
- 2021: Fifteen operators become the first to be licensed by the Hellenic Gaming Commission, with OPAP’s power limited solely to lottery games. It is unclear what Greece will do with access to offshore betting sites (that haven’t obtained Greek licenses) at this moment in time.
Is It Safe to Gamble at a Greek Online Casino?
Many of the offshore casinos catering to Greek players are licensed out of reputable European jurisdictions, such as the MGA and UKGC. However, the Hellenic Gaming Commission licensed casinos are undoubtedly amongst the safest online casinos in Greece. They have player protections that are designed to protect bettors, and the sites themselves must have a service that focuses on Greek players, such as supporting Greek-friendly payment options and Greek language support.
How to Choose the Best Online Casino?
Our team has spent a lot of time examining the fifteen recently licensed sites and looking at some of the other, most trusted online casinos for Greek players. We’ve put together a list of top sites and online gambling reviews that Greece’s players can check out. Each of our chosen sites fulfils many criteria, such as being licensed, offering fair bonuses, great games, and player protections for Greeks. Allow us to showcase some of the things our team looks for over the next few sections:
Casino Bonuses
It is tempting to choose a casino that offers a sizeable welcome bonus. However, we would recommend that you also consider looking at the array of other promotions a site has to offer, coupled with the terms and conditions behind it. For instance, the wagering requirements and minimum deposit limits should be low, while win caps (if any) should be extensive. Moreover, you should be able to use the bonuses on any games that take your fancy.
Games and Software
Long gone are the days of OPAP and poor, proprietary, in-house software. Today’s Greece-licensed casinos should offer you games from all the leading developers and providers. Moreover, they should span many different genres, including slots, table games, live dealer titles, video poker and more besides.
The Reputation of the Casino
Naturally, one of the prerequisites to being a safe and trusted Greek casino is obtaining a license from the Hellenic Gaming Commission. However, there are other regulators and licensing authorities that can be trusted just as much. Our team examines the security, safety, and fair play credentials of these sites before we recommend them to you.
Casino Customer Support
Greek players should expect to see customer support available in Greek. Moreover, those services should be available around the clock, via live chat and e-mail, if not telephone. An FAQ service will also see a Greek casino score highly.
Payment Methods
Greek players should expect to be able to deposit using their preferred payment methods. Moreover, the euro should be accepted, and there should be no added charges for funding your account or withdrawing your winnings.
Online Casino Games Available for Greece’s Players
With the removal of OPAP’s monopoly, new online casino games are coming to Greece. These shouldn’t be low-rate, proprietary titles but the best online casino games Greece has to offer. Any top-notch online casinos that accept Greek players should have…
- RTP rates that are on par or above the industry standard;
- By RNG-certified for fair play;
- Span all sorts of genres, and come from the libraries of multiplier providers;
- Be available to play in Greek and with the euro currency.
Online Slots
Online slots in Greece should span everything from three-reel to five-reel games, MegaWays slots, and they should carry a decent mix of progressive and non-progressive jackpot prizes. Slot machines in Greece should be mobile-friendly, to boot.
Online Blackjack
It is possible to play internet blackjack online for real money in Greece. Expect to see a decent array of variants, including both RNG and live dealer options.
Online Roulette
Casinos that offer you both RNG and live dealer roulette and multiple variants of each represent the best online roulette gambling sites in Greece.
Live Dealer Games
Playing live casino games online in Greece should be possible when you visit both Greek-licensed sites and those licensed out of the UK and MGA.
Other Online Casino Games
On top of the games we’ve already discussed, you should also expect to find other titles, including craps, video poker, scratch cards, and bingo, although, admittedly, the latter isn’t as popular in Greece as other games.
Most Popular Casino Software in Greece
With the removal of OPAP’s monopoly, players can now expect to see Microgaming casinos in Greece, and even the best NetEnt casinos in Greece are becoming a reality. Here are a few other software providers offering games to Greek players:
- BetSoft Gaming
- Evolution Gaming
- Ezugi
- Microgaming
- NetEnt
Banking Information for Greek Players
By and large, Greeks can use the same payment methods that you can find elsewhere.
- Expect no fees for depositing and withdrawing.
- Withdrawals should be processed in under 24-48 hours with some options.
- All payment methods should accept the euro.
- Some payment methods (such as Greek online casinos accepting PayPal) are only available at HGC-licensed sites.
Online casino players in Greece can deposit with VISA, and MasterCard, but they can also use these options:
Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies are only legal at offshore casinos catering to Greeks. They are not currently available at HGC-licensed sites. Perks to using Bitcoins, Ethereum and others include:
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Super-fast transaction times
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More anonymity (ideal when playing at offshore sites)
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You can often avoid KYC processes
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Lower transaction fees
Mobile Gaming in Greece
Betting at a mobile casino in Greece doesn’t require gambling apps or software. All modern casinos are designed using HTML5, so you can easily play on iOS and Android devices without online gambling apps in Greece.
Greece Online Casino Bonuses & Promo Codes
Greece may or may not require online casino bonus codes for you to claim their offers. As well as looking at these terms and conditions, you should also pay special attention to the terms and conditions applied to such offers. The best bonus online casino deals in Greece will be those that have low wagering requirements, low minimum deposit limits, high win caps, good game eligibility rules, and are also worth a few euros. Just because a bonus is worth a lot doesn’t necessarily make it the best deal if all the other terms are sub-par.
You can rest assured that you always have access to top deals by checking out our casino reviews. There, you will find the best casinos that Greece has to offer, covering the most reputable and safest (but also prosperous) casino bonuses. Let us take a quick look at some of the most offered ones below:
No Deposit Bonuses
A typical no deposit casino in Greece will provide you with a free offer. New Greece players at no deposit casinos may be able to pocket a handful of free spins on top slots or claim a small amount of cash for use on games. The exact terms of each offer will vary from site to site, but they can all potentially lead to you winning real money.
Deposit Match
A first deposit bonus at a casino in Greece will often consist of a sum of money awarded to you based on the amount you deposit. Naturally, Greece online casinos with low deposit terms and more advantageous for most players, but they often deliver smaller bonuses. It is not uncommon to double your deposit at most sites.
Free Spins
Free spins may be offered at an online casino as a free sign-up bonus with no deposit required in Greece. However, you could also snap up these spins as a loyalty offer. They allow you to spin top reels for free, with a sniff of winning real money present.
Reload Bonuses
Some Greek casinos regularly reward their players when they deposit. These may be long-term or one-off loyalty offers. Either way, they represent a great way to bolster your balance if the terms are right.
FAQs
Before going, check out this brief FAQ on Greece, its gambling laws, and its betting sites…
