Greece - HGC: types of licenses

Online License Types and Key Parameters

Type 1 — Online Betting. Covers bets on real events, fantasy/virtual events, etc.; term - 7 years; license - €3,000,000.

Type 2 — Other Online Games. Covers online casino/slots, poker (including live/p2p); term - 7 years; license - €2,000,000.

Additionally according to the procedure: min. Set "fit & proper," payment of duties and introduction of a guarantee (performance guarantee); both types can be fed at once.

Technical and organizational requirements

Domain. gr: Online gaming is only allowed through termination sites. gr; one site - a maximum of one license of each type.
Safe-server in Greece: an applicant with a legal entity outside Greece is required to physically install a security/safe-server in Greece associated with the HGC for control.
Regulations and "technical": "Regulation for Online Gambling" (MinFin No. 79835 ΕΞ 2020), as well as technical regulations/instructions of HGC (certification of games/RNG, logs, data immutability, reporting) are applicable.

Registers, "Whitelist/Blacklist," and Payment Control

HGC maintains white registries (licensees, certified games/providers) and Blacklist of unlicensed providers; ISPs and payment organizations are required to block access/payments to black domains. In 2024, HGC reported thousands of records and an increase in the number of locks.

Advertising & Affiliates

Commercial communication is regulated by a separate act (including the content of disclaimers, moderation, prohibitions on misleading promises, protection of vulnerable groups).
Affiliates are subject to a separate "suitability license" and entered in the HGC register (decision HGC 509/1/11. 09. 2020): the operator is responsible for traffic partners.

Taxes and fiscal burden (online)

Tax on GGR operators: 35% (for racehorses - 30%).
Player taxes: winning scales apply (for casinos/slots - 0% to €100, 15% €100. 01- €500, 20% over €500; for betting - by the amount of slip).

💡 To wiki editors: bets/thresholds on winnings are periodically calibrated - keep the table "Taxes (player/operator)" up to date.

Age, KYC/AML and responsible play

Prior to admission to the game - hard identification and KYC/AML; virtual currencies are not used in rates.
General RG requirements: limits, warnings, timeouts/self-exclusion, control of advertising exposure to vulnerable groups (granularity - in HGC regulations).

Land-based loop (for completeness)

Casinos, VLTs, and lotteries are governed by separate regulations (including Casino Act 4512/2018; VLT regulation). Type 1/Type 2 online licenses do not give rights to offline operations.

Practical checklist for market entry

Legal & Structure

1. Define the perimeter: Type 1 (bets), Type 2 (casino/poker) or both; prepare "fit & proper" for legal entities, shareholders, key-persons.
2. Plan payments: €3m (Type 1 )/€ 2m (Type 2) for a 7-year license + warranty and other fees according to the procedure.

Technology and data

3) Deploy. gr-domain and safe-server in Greece; provide telemetry/upload channels to HGC, unchanged logs, RNG/game certification from recognized laboratories.

Marketing & Affiliates

4) Build an advertising perimeter under the HGC regulations and issue licenses for affiliates (or work only with licensed ones).

Finance and taxes

5) Simulate P&L under 35% GGR tax and winnings taxes; check the impact on RTP/bonuses/net margin.

Law enforcement

6) Set up Blacklist and payment block monitoring; Include a quick response to HGC instructions in the processes.

Frequent operator errors

Ignoring requirements. gr and/or the absence of a safe-server in Greece.
Working with unlicensed affiliates or "gray" advertising.
Incorrect fiscal model (35% GGR unaccounted for, taxes on winnings, impact on RTP/bonuses).
Slow response to Blacklist updates and associated payment restrictions.

Trends 2025 +

Increased enforcement: new Blacklist releases, tight control of payment flows and point revocation/suspension of licenses.
Technical supervision "by design": the development of telemetry, reporting formats and requirements for the storage of players' funds (the division of client balances is being discussed).

Conclusion

Greece offers an understandable and formalized route: Type 1 for bets and Type 2 for casino/poker with a 7-year term and a fixed cost, while - a strict "technical" (.gr + safe-server), separate licensing of affiliates, active Blacklist and 35% GGR tax. A successful exit requires "default compliance": correct architecture, transparent marketing and a neat GGR economy.