Compliance and Responsible Gaming in the Greek Market

Over the past decade, Greece has transformed from a fragmented online gaming environment into one of Europe’s most structured and forward-looking regulatory models. At the heart of this transformation lies a dual focus: compliance and responsible gaming. Both are legal obligations—but, more importantly, they are cultural and operational imperatives in a jurisdiction that seeks not just to grow, but to grow responsibly.

With a strong regulatory framework, increasing enforcement, and data-driven adaptations, Greece is now becoming a reference point for how markets can evolve in step with technology and player protection.

A Solid Legal Foundation

Greece’s online gaming framework is rooted in Law 4002/2011, as amended by Law 4635/2019, with technical and operational requirements detailed in the Online Gaming Regulation 79314 ΕΞ 2020. Together, these laws created the structure for two types of online licenses: one for betting and one for other online games of chance.

Today, the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) supervises a competitive and transparent market with over 16 licensed operators, supported by certified suppliers and increasingly regulated affiliates. But licensing is only the beginning—compliance is the true operational test.

Compliance: More Than Just a Requirement

In Greece, compliance is embedded in the day-to-day operations of legal gaming entities. The HGC has introduced a model that demands constant monitoring and accountability in several core areas:

• Affiliate oversight and registration

• AML and KYC controls with a risk-based approach

• Adherence to advertising codes and consumer protection rules

• Technical certifications and secure player environments

• Transparent bonus structures and responsible onboarding

Moreover, Greece has become a standout jurisdiction in Europe for revising its product limitations in favour of evidence-based reform.

2022 Reform: Data-Driven Risk Balancing

In 2022, the HGC made a bold move after conducting a regulatory impact assessment. It became the only EU regulator to raise the limits on online RNG games, allowing operators to better serve player preferences while keeping strong control mechanisms in place.

Key changes included:

• Maximum bet per spin increased from €2 to €20

• Minimum spin duration reduced from 3 to 2 seconds

• Maximum win per spin doubled from €70,000 to €140,000

This reform signalled a regulatory maturity: acknowledging that well-regulated, commercially viable offerings can coexist with high levels of player protection.

Responsible Gaming: Tools, Technology, and Vision

Greece has embedded responsible gaming deeply within its regulatory architecture. Operators are required to offer:

• Deposit, time, and loss limits

• Reality checks

• Self-assessment tests

• Temporary and permanent self-exclusion

Yet Greece hasn’t stopped there. A Central Self-Exclusion Database is in the pipeline—already legislated but pending implementation. Once live, this tool will allow real-time exclusion across all licensed operators, closing one of the last gaps in cross-platform player protection.

Gamalyze: AI in the Service of Safer Play

In 2024, the HGC took a groundbreaking step forward by integrating Gamalyze, an AI-powered self-assessment tool, into its official player protection resources. Developed by Mindway AI, Gamalyze is an award-winning interactive card game that evaluates players' decision-making behaviour and risk tendencies.

Players make 80 selections across four decks, simulating real gaming situations. Based on their choices, the tool provides personalised feedback on their gaming behaviour—including risk-taking tendencies, emotional decision-making, and self-control. The data-driven results give players practical insights and encourage early awareness of unhealthy patterns.

This innovation is notable for two reasons:

1. It makes responsible gaming engaging. Players receive tailored insights in a gamified format rather than a static questionnaire.

2. It aligns with modern psychology and neuroscience. Gamalyze uses decision science to measure risk in a way that is meaningful and easy to understand.

By adopting Gamalyze, the HGC signalled that AI and behavioural science can and should play a role in preventing gaming harm before it starts.

Black Market Challenges Remain

Despite strong regulation, Greece still faces persistent threats from black market operators. These entities often:

• Use Greek language and local branding

• Facilitate transactions via misleading Merchant Category Codes (MCCs)

• Operate through payment agent companies, often based in Cyprus

• Offer no real responsible gaming or KYC controls

To combat this, the HGC maintains and regularly updates a blacklist of unauthorised domains and works closely with banks and payment providers to block financial flows tied to illegal gaming. Efforts to educate players about the risks of unlicensed play continue, especially among younger demographics.

Future Outlook: AI, Accountability, and Awareness

Greece’s regulatory direction is clear: maintain strong guardrails but evolve with the market.

Key trends on the horizon include:

• AI-driven early detection of at-risk behaviour

• Cross-channel player tracking, especially as convergence between land-based and online grows

• Ethical game design under greater scrutiny (e.g., autoplay, near-miss mechanics)

• Transparent, accessible RG tools across platforms and devices

Operators will increasingly be judged not just on whether they have tools—but on whether those tools are visible, effective, and used. Compliance and RG will no longer be the responsibility of just the legal or risk teams—they will shape the entire customer journey.

Conclusion: Compliance Is the New Brand

The Greek market has evolved from a grey area into a highly structured, tech-driven jurisdiction. Regulators are not simply gatekeepers—they are partners in shaping a healthier ecosystem.

With innovations like Gamalyze, reforms such as the 2022 bet and win limit increases, and a Central Self-Exclusion Database in development, Greece is proving that responsible growth is possible.

Operators that lead with transparency, accountability, and care for the player will not only survive—they’ll thrive.

In a market like Greece, compliance isn’t a cost—it’s your brand.

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