Greek Regulator Seeks Partner to Bolster Online Player Verification

The Hellenic Gambling Supervision and Control Commission (EEEP) has initiated a tender process to find a partner that will help improve player monitoring within Greece's regulated online gambling sector. This strategic move aims to fortify player identification frameworks, bolster anti-money laundering (AML) defenses, and enhance cybersecurity protocols across the market.

The tender focuses on redeveloping the structure for Electronic Player Accounts (EPAs), which are critical for verifying and tracking gamblers. The objective is to refine Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, enabling licensed operators to more effectively prevent fraud, financial crimes, and underage participation. The selected contractor will offer both technical and legal expertise to design and enhance secure player identification and verification processes.

The engagement will run until the end of 2026, involving up to 190 hours of legal consultancy, with a contract value of €28,500. The partnership mandates the delivery of three progress reports detailing proposed enhancements to Greece's player verification system.

This tender is a component of a wider government initiative to strengthen regulated gambling oversight and curb the illicit market's influence in Greece. Draft legislation, approved last month, proposes a significant overhaul of the country's gambling regulations.

Under the proposed bill, the EEEP's permanent workforce is set to expand from 80 to 110 staff members, facilitating new hirings in critical areas like enforcement, IT, cybersecurity, and market intelligence. The regulator would also gain direct authority to swiftly block illegal gambling websites and applications. The scope of banned operations will extend beyond just websites, domains, and IP addresses to include mobile apps.

New regulations will also target facilitators of unlawful gambling, including influencers, affiliate marketers, website owners, internet cafés, and internet service providers (ISPs) that fail to block access. Furthermore, banks will be mandated to block transactions linked to unlicensed operators. Individuals or entities organizing unlawful gambling face severe penalties, including prison terms of at least 10 years and fines ranging from €50,000 to €700,000.

More serious offenses, such as those involving organized crime, minors, or repeat offenders, could incur fines up to €800,000 and prison sentences exceeding 10 years, particularly for crimes related to money laundering, fraud, or tax evasion. In a recent enforcement action, the EEEP filed criminal complaints against 18 influencers and streamers for allegedly promoting unlicensed betting platforms, marking a significant escalation in the country's efforts against illegal online gambling promotion.