The Greek Gaming Commission (EEEP) has filed a complaint with the Athens Prosecutor's Office against 18 influencers for allegedly advertising illegal gambling operators on their Instagram accounts.
Reportedly, these influencers used terms such as ''I won,'' ''profits" or ''sure money,'' which are prohibited even for legal gambling operator ads.
Five prominent influencers have accounts with hundreds of thousands of followers, and the 18 accounts collectively reach an audience exceeding 3 million users.
Local media reports that fines for such posts usually range from €3,000 ($3,400) to €5,000, making this activity profitable for well-paid influencers.
This is expected to change as regulations tighten under the new bill from the Ministry of Finance. In this bill, advertising violations are specifically targeted, with influencers, affiliates, streamers and digital networks facing fines of up to €50,000 per breach.
Under this legislation, the EEEP's role and responsibilities will be strengthened, allowing it to order the immediate removal of illegal online content. The regulator’s staffing would also increase from 80 to 110 positions.
The Gaming Inspectors Corps will be upgraded, with members granted special investigative authority to pursue criminal investigations into illegal gambling.
Other measures to tackle illegal online activity would include creating a blacklist of unlicensed gambling providers and blocking access to their domains.
The draft also introduces strict criminal penalties. Operating illegal gambling could carry prison sentences of up to 10 years alongside fines of up to €700,000.
Higher penalties would apply where offences are carried out on a commercial scale, involve minors or take place on land-based premises that repeatedly operate without a licence.
Two integrated resorts in the Attica region of Greece are set to begin operations in 2028: the Elliniko Hard Rock project and the Voria development in Marousi
