Greek authorities have filed complaints against 18 influencers over the promotion of illegal gambling as the country expands enforcement beyond unlicensed operators to people and online channels that help advertise them.
Economy and Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis confirmed the cases during a briefing at the Hellenic Gaming Commission on October 6. The complaints are currently at the preliminary investigation stage, and authorities have not announced any findings of criminal liability.
The cases form part of a wider regulatory approach targeting illegal gambling activity distributed through websites, social media platforms and other digital channels. Pierrakakis said the online environment has made enforcement more complex because illegal websites can change addresses quickly and promotions can spread through links, videos, influencers and streamers.
“The message in each direction should be one: the internet is not a jungle,” Pierrakakis said. “Popularity offers no immunity and influence carries responsibility.
“Anyone who uses their power and influence to promote illegal gambling should know that they will be tracked down, scrutinised and face the consequences,” he added.
HGC Receives Wider Enforcement Powers
Greece strengthened the Hellenic Gaming Commission’s authority under regulatory changes introduced in June.
The framework gives the regulator stronger tools against illegal online gambling promotion and expands the investigative powers available to gaming inspectors. Authorities also created 110 positions at the HGC, including 40 roles for specialist scientific staff.
The regulator can now impose direct administrative sanctions for illegal online promotion, with fines reaching €50,000 for each violation.
Pierrakakis said the additional powers and staffing are intended to give the HGC the technical expertise and operational capacity needed to respond more quickly to changing forms of illegal gambling.
“Illegal activity evolves,” Pierrakakis said in a press release. “The state’s response must stay ahead of it.”
Authorities are also working with new digital tools and artificial intelligence to identify illegal networks and locate websites and promotional channels more quickly. The government’s approach includes cooperation with telecommunications authorities and internet access providers when blocking unlawful sites.
The expanded enforcement approach marks a shift from concentrating primarily on the gambling operators themselves. Regulators are now examining a broader network that can include people promoting unlicensed gambling services to online audiences.
Influencer Cases Remain at Preliminary Stage
The 18 complaints represent one of the first visible results under the strengthened framework.
Pierrakakis stressed that the investigations remain at an early stage, meaning the filing of complaints does not establish criminal responsibility.
The focus on influencers reflects the government’s concern that social media personalities can give illegal gambling operators access to large audiences. Online promotion can also make enforcement more difficult when operators or websites change their digital presence.
The HGC can address that activity through administrative measures while criminal investigations proceed through the relevant authorities.
The minister also emphasized early detection rather than relying solely on penalties after violations have already taken place. Digital monitoring is intended to help regulators identify illegal gambling networks and the channels used to promote them before they become more established.
Other European Markets Also Review Influencer Promotion
Greece’s measures come as regulators elsewhere in Europe examine gambling promotion involving influencers and content creators.
A Finnish court ruled in June that a content creator broke local law by advertising offshore casino bonuses through Instagram, Kick and a linked website. The individual received a €2,480 fine.
Spain’s gambling regulator has also consulted on tighter rules governing the use of celebrities and influencers in gambling marketing.
In Australia, Liquor & Gaming New South Wales has increased scrutiny of partnerships between betting operators and social media influencers.
The Greek cases differ because they concern alleged promotion of illegal gambling under the country’s strengthened enforcement framework. Authorities have not announced final outcomes for the 18 investigations.
For now, the complaints demonstrate how Greece intends to apply its revised powers beyond operators themselves, with online promoters and other parts of the digital advertising chain increasingly subject to scrutiny.