The Greek Government will deploy artificial intelligence as part of a new digital surveillance system, targeted at curtailing the black market.
Powered by AI, the new real-time digital surveillance system will help to counter illegal operators and identify suspicious activity.
Greek authorities will also begin systematically cross-checking user data, platform activity and financial flows, with cooperation from the Bank of Greece, as well as DNS filtering mechanisms to block access to unlicensed gambling platforms.
A significant threat
Greece’s Ministry of National Economy and Finance has been charged with drafting a new legislative framework. Set for public consultation in autumn 2025, the legislation will help to prosecute illegal gambling operators working within a market that is estimated to be worth €160bn annually.
Finance and Economy Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis told reporters that the Government is missing out on €500m in tax revenue each year, as data from the Hellenic Gaming Supervision and Control Commission (EEEP) revealed that 800,000 Greek citizens engaged in illegal gambling in 2024.
On average, players spent €1,934 annually, and 28% of respondents reported that they gamble exclusively on unlicensed websites.
“We are embarking on a determined effort to restructure the space with transparency, rigour and modern tools. The numbers are shocking. This is not just a leak of public resources, but a deep social pathology,” warned Pierrakakis.
In recognition of the threat of the black market, the EEEP also established its own joint task force in July, working alongside Greece’s national police, judiciary, and financial intelligence unit.
Particular emphasis will be placed on understanding the operational tactics of illegal networks, including their use of social media, encrypted messaging apps, and database marketing and the methods through which they obscure financial flows via layered transactional systems.
Antonis Vartholomaios, President of the EEEP, said: “Our task is not simply enforcement, but building a resilient regulatory framework that can adapt to the digital age.
“This requires transparency, persistence, and inter-agency coordination — not as a one-time measure, but as a new standard of governance. We will not win this fight with legislation alone, but with unified commitment across the public sector.”
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