Greece is considering stricter oversight of online gambling, including centralised player verification and increased scrutiny of VIP customers at licensed operators.
Until now, online gambling providers have verified their own players. However, critics argue the existing system allows inconsistencies in player records across platforms.
For example, the same individual may be registered under different name variations with separate operators. This makes it harder to identify customers across the market and enforce self-exclusion measures consistently.
Legal obstacles delay centralised verification plans
The Greek Gaming Commission (EEEP) sought to address the above shortcomings by proposing a universal verification system through the government's e-Gov platform. However, legal obstacles have delayed its implementation.
The Commission's administration earlier said it lacked the technical expertise and resources to establish the system independently. Licensed operators then turned to a bank closely tied to the gambling industry to carry out the centralised verification process through the official portal e-Gov.gr.
The bank began verifying players but later halted the process after the General Secretariat for Public Administration Information Systems (GGPSDD) intervened. In a letter to the bank, the EEEP and the Hellenic Data Protection Authority, the secretariat reportedly said the verification process lacked a legal basis under existing Greek legislation.
Although private companies can use e-Gov for certain verification purposes, such as confirming the identity of telecommunications customers, current legislation does not provide the same process in the online gambling sector. Therefore, a clear legal framework must be established before the system can proceed and the relevant data from the national citizen registry can be shared.
As a result, Greece's efforts to introduce a unified player verification system remain dependent on resolving these legal issues.
Verification gaps raise concerns across Europe
Greece is not the only country addressing verification issues in the online gambling sector. The Dutch gambling regulator, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), recently issued guidance on verifying bank accounts and other payment methods after finding shortcomings in operators' account registration procedures. Its investigation identified cases in which minors were able to deposit funds from their own bank accounts.
Although the Dutch review focused primarily on underage gambling, verification gaps can also affect players registered with Cruks, the Netherlands' national self-exclusion register, potentially allowing them to continue gambling despite their exclusion.
Meanwhile, Spain introduced new payment verification rules for online gambling this month as part of broader efforts to strengthen anti-money laundering controls and improve payment transparency.
VIP programs come under regulatory scrutiny
Alongside player verification, the EEEP is examining how licensed operators manage their VIP and high-value customer (HVC) programs.
VIP programs can include dedicated account managers, personalised player support, exclusive bonuses, gifts, invitations, and hospitality benefits not generally available to regular customers.
The EEEP has sent questionnaires to all 18 licensed online gambling providers in Greece, requesting detailed information about their VIP and HVC programs.
Local media reported that the regulator is concerned that some operators may be directing VIP customers to gambling platforms not licensed in Greece.
The reports also raise the possibility of money laundering risks, although they do not establish that any particular operator has engaged in such activity.
The EEEP recently implemented a new AI detection and documentation tool to help tackle the illegal market
