Greece will raise the withholding tax on online casino player winnings from 1 July 2026, following an emergency government meeting over the weekend. The measure, which excludes sports betting, is expected to generate an additional €100 million in annual revenue to fund relief measures tied to developments in the Middle East.
New Rate Structure
The revised tax structure introduces two bands. For winnings between €100 and €500, the rate increases from 15% to 20%. For winnings above €500, the rate rises from 20% to 30%. Both changes are permanent.
The government expects to collect approximately €50 million in the second half of 2026, rising to €100 million annually from 2027 onwards. Online casino games were selected as the vehicle for the increase because they record higher activity levels in Greece than other forms of online gambling.
No Consultation With Industry
The decision came without prior consultation with licensed operators, a fact that drew criticism from industry insiders who spoke to local media. Sources told Greek outlets they understood the government’s position but stressed that the abrupt nature of the move created planning difficulties for operators.
Although the withholding tax is formally a player-side obligation, operators often absorb part of the cost to protect their customer base, effectively converting a player tax into a margin compression for the platforms themselves.
Crucially, operators are already subject to a 35% tax on GGR.
That existing GGR levy, combined with the new player-side rate increase, adds further pressure on licensed operators in a market that has been growing rapidly. Greece’s iGaming sector reported growth of over 50% in H2 2025, making it one of the fastest-expanding regulated markets in Europe.
Black Market Risk
Industry sources flagged a secondary consequence: the risk that higher tax rates on winnings push players toward unlicensed operators to avoid deductions at source. This concern sits awkwardly alongside Greece’s recent legislative push against illegal gambling.
In February 2026, the Ministry of National Economy and Finance introduced draft legislation targeting the country’s illegal gambling market, estimated at €1.67 billion in annual turnover, with enhanced digital enforcement powers and significantly higher criminal penalties. A separate bill later in the same month raised maximum fines to €800,000 and extended prison sentences to ten years for unlicensed operators.
The tax increase was signed off at an emergency meeting convened by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, attended by officials from the Ministry of National Economy and Finance, including Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis. The government reportedly identified the gambling sector as carrying minimal political risk compared to other revenue-raising options, which shaped the decision to act without sector consultation.
The Greek Gaming Commission (EEEP) has separately been preparing licensed operators for the EU’s updated anti-money laundering framework, with workshops and presentations scheduled ahead of the new requirements taking effect.
Source: Greek parliament
