Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right licence scope and leads the file all the way to the HGC decision, including banking and payment rails.
Get a gambling license in Greece.
Greece licenses online gaming in two types under its 2020 Online Gaming Regulation: Type 1 for betting at €3,000,000 and Type 2 for casino and poker at €2,000,000, each valid for seven years and payable at once or in four annual instalments. Every licence needs a €500,000 letter of guarantee. The Hellenic Gaming Commission decides within two months of a complete file. The local conditions are firm: a .gr domain, a Safe server on Greek territory and a Suitability Licence for each shareholder, director and key employee.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Greece in brief
A seven-year licence at a seven-figure price.
Online gaming in Greece rests on Law 4002/2011 (FEK A' 180/22.08.2011), the framework act on gaming and on the Hellenic Gaming Commission, amended as recently as Law 5222/2025, and on arts. 189-203 of Law 4635/2019. The working rulebook is Ministerial Decision 79835 EX 2020, the Online Gaming Regulation (FEK B' 3265/05.08.2020). Its art. 3.1 creates two licences. Type 1 covers betting on sports, fantasy sports and virtual events for €3,000,000; Type 2 covers casino games, poker variants and live dealer for €2,000,000. Each runs seven years from grant (art. 3.3), and the price can be paid at once or in four equal annual instalments (art. 5.4). Applicants are legal persons seated or permanently established in Greece or elsewhere in the EU/EEA, with at least €200,000 of paid-up capital. The application fee is €10,000. The guarantee is €500,000 per licence, and the HGC must decide within two months of a complete file.
The price list is the easy part. The central system may sit in any EU/EEA data centre, but the Safe server must stand on Greek territory (arts. 33.6, 33.8), the website must end in .gr, and every shareholder, director and key employee needs a Suitability Licence. OPAP is the fixed point of the market: it holds the exclusive rights to KINO, TZOKER and land-based betting, for 20 years under Law 4972/2022, and may run its games online. The HGC lists 18 licensed online operators and more than 14,000 blacklisted sites. The State's share of gross profit under art. 50 of Law 4002/2011 is confirmed with the HGC before we model your first month. In 2024 one licensee, BetShop, suddenly suspended online betting, and on 23.09.2024 the HGC opened a procedure to recover players' money. The €500,000 guarantee is written for cases like it: it is called when winnings are not paid immediately (art. 5.7).
Two seven-year licences under the 2020 Online Gaming Regulation: Type 1 betting at €3,000,000, Type 2 casino and poker at €2,000,000, payable over four years. A €500,000 guarantee per licence, €200,000 paid-up capital, €10,000 to apply, a decision within two months.
Local conditions: .gr domain, Safe server in Greece, Suitability Licences for owners and staff. OPAP keeps its 20-year exclusivity. The State's share of gross profit is confirmed with the HGC before quoting. Built from Athens.
The two licences
Type 1 for betting - or Type 2 for casino.
Art. 3.1 of the Regulation splits online gaming by product. Each type is a separate seven-year licence with its own price and its own €500,000 guarantee, so an operator running both verticals holds two.
Type 1 for betting - or Type 2 for casino and poker.
01 - TYPE 1 · ONLINE BETTING
The betting licence
Betting on sports, fantasy sports, virtual and other permitted events. €3,000,000 for seven years, paid at once or in four equal annual instalments of €750,000, with a €500,000 guarantee behind it.
Betting on sports, fantasy sports, virtual and other permitted events. €3,000,000 for seven years, paid at once or in four equal annual instalments of €750,000, with a €500,000 guarantee behind it.
- ✓Sports, fantasy and virtual events
- ✓€3,000,000 for 7 years
- ✓4 annual instalments allowed
- ✓€500,000 guarantee per licence
- ✓€200,000 paid-up capital
- ✓Decision within 2 months
02 - TYPE 2 · ONLINE CASINO
€2,000,000 · 7 yearsThe casino licence
Casino games, poker and its variants, and live dealer, for €2,000,000 over seven years on the same terms. Two rules bite harder here: RNG games may be advertised only on the licensee's own website (art. 7.6), and live studios must be certified and located in the EU/EEA (art. 15).
Casino, poker variants and live dealer: €2,000,000 for seven years, RNG ads only on your own site, live studios certified in the EU/EEA.
- ✓Casino, poker variants, live dealer
- ✓€2,000,000 for 7 years
- ✓Same €500,000 guarantee
- ✓RNG ads on own site only
- ✓Live studios in the EU/EEA
- ✓Renewal filed 12+ months ahead
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. Holding both types means €5,000,000 in licence consideration and €1,000,000 in guarantees; suppliers and affiliates need Suitability Licences instead of either type.
Why Greece
Expensive to enter, policed once you are in.
Greece asks for seven figures up front and gives back a seven-year term in a market that blacklists unlicensed rivals.
✓
A two-month statutory clock
Art. 5.4 of the Regulation obliges the HGC to decide within two months of a complete application. An incomplete file left uncured is rejected tacitly (art. 5.5), so completeness is the whole schedule.Art. 5.4, from a complete file.
✓
Seven years, priced on day one
The licence consideration, €3,000,000 or €2,000,000, covers the full seven-year term, paid at once or in four equal yearly parts. Renewal, applied for at least a year before expiry, runs for an equal period.Seven years, one known cost.
✓
EU/EEA companies apply directly
A company seated or permanently established anywhere in the EU/EEA can hold the licence (art. 4.1a). One established abroad appoints a process agent (art. 5.1).No Greek company required.
✓
14,000+ sites on the blacklist
Under art. 48 of Law 4002/2011 the HGC blacklists unlicensed sites reachable from a Greek IP address - more than 14,000 of them, against 18 licensed online operators.14,000+ sites blacklisted.
✓
Online casino is licensable
Type 2 covers casino, poker variants and live dealer at €2,000,000. Cyprus, the other Greek-speaking market, licenses online betting only.Type 2 covers live dealer.
✓
OPAP's 20-year exclusivity
Read this one as a warning. Law 4972/2022 gives OPAP exclusive rights for 20 years and lets it offer its games online, so you launch against an incumbent.An incumbent, online too.
How it compares
How Greece differs from other routes.
The honest comparison: a seven-figure entry buys a seven-year term and a statutory clock, and the local conditions - a .gr domain, a Safe server in Greece - are ones hub licences rarely set.
Greece vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Greece | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | €3M betting · €2M casino per 7 years | Annual fees more common |
| Decision clock | 2 months from a complete file | Varies by regulator |
| Guarantee | €500,000 per licence | €550,000 Cyprus · €2M-€5M Romania |
| Local conditions | .gr domain, Safe server in Greece | Rare in hub licences |
Entry price
Greece€3M betting · €2M casino per 7 years
Other jurisdictionsAnnual fees more common
Decision clock
Greece2 months from a complete file
Other jurisdictionsVaries by regulator
Guarantee
Greece€500,000 per licence
Other jurisdictions€550,000 Cyprus · €2M-€5M Romania
Local conditions
Greece.gr domain, Safe server in Greece
Other jurisdictionsRare in hub licences
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greece | HGC Type 1 · Type 2 | State share (art. 50) · 0.5% HGC levy | €200k capital, €500k guarantee |
 Cyprus | NBA Class B betting | 10% + 3% net revenue | €500k capital, €550k guarantee |
 Romania | ONJN Class I remote | 21% of revenue, min €400k | RON 1M capital, €2M-€5M guarantee |
 Malta | MGA B2C · B2B | 5% eff. + contributions | €100k/€40k capital |
GreeceLicense typeHGC Type 1 · Type 2
TaxationState share (art. 50) · 0.5% HGC levy
Requirements€200k capital, €500k guarantee
CyprusLicense typeNBA Class B betting
Taxation10% + 3% net revenue
Requirements€500k capital, €550k guarantee
RomaniaLicense typeONJN Class I remote
Taxation21% of revenue, min €400k
RequirementsRON 1M capital, €2M-€5M guarantee
MaltaLicense typeMGA B2C · B2B
Taxation5% eff. + contributions
Requirements€100k/€40k capital
Before you apply
Requirements for the Greek licence.Requirements for the licence.
The HGC examines the company and every person behind it before it looks at the platform. A complete file contains the ten items below.
01
Eligible applicant - a legal person with its registered office or a permanent establishment in Greece or another EU/EEA state (art. 4.1a).
02
Paid-up capital - at least €200,000, evidenced in the file (art. 4.1a).
03
Application fee - €10,000, non-refundable, paid with the application (art. 5.1).
04
Letter of guarantee - €500,000 per licence, called on breaches or unpaid winnings and released one year after expiry (art. 5.7).
05
Suitability Licences - one each for shareholders, directors and key personnel (art. 4.1e).
06
Clean records and clearances - no disqualifying convictions for directors or partners, plus tax and social-security clearance at the filing date (arts. 4.1b-4.1c).
07
Process agent - appointed where the applicant is established outside Greece (art. 5.1).
08
Hosting - central system in an EU/EEA data centre (art. 32.10) and the Safe server on Greek territory (arts. 33.6, 33.8).
09
Domain and payments - a website ending in .gr and payment providers established in Greece or the EU/EEA (art. 1).
10
Player protection - deposit, loss and time limits (art. 24) and self-exclusion from one month to permanent (art. 20); while the unified register is under development, exclusion requests also reach you through the HGC.
01
EU/EEA or Greek legal person.
02
€200,000 paid-up capital.
03
€10,000 application fee.
04
€500,000 guarantee per licence.
05
Suitability Licences for people.
06
Clean records, tax clearance.
07
Process agent if abroad.
08
EU/EEA hosting, Safe in Greece.
09
.gr domain, EU/EEA payments.
10
Limits and self-exclusion built.
Reflects Law 4002/2011 as amended up to Law 5222/2025 and the 2020 Online Gaming Regulation, as of 2026. Further decisions on online gaming followed in 2022; we confirm the current schedule with the HGC before quoting.Law 4002/2011 + 2020 Online Gaming Regulation, as of 2026.
How it works
From first call to the HGC register.
01
Type and structure
Type 1, Type 2 or both; a Greek company or an EU/EEA seat with a process agent - fixed in writing before drafting starts.Fixed in writing.
02
People and capital
Suitability Licence files for shareholders, directors and key staff, and €200,000 of paid-up capital evidenced.€200,000 paid up.
03
Systems and guarantee
EU/EEA hosting, the Safe server in Greece, the .gr domain and a €500,000 guarantee for each licence.Safe server in Greece.
04
Filing and decision
The €10,000 fee and a complete file. The HGC decides within two months (art. 5.4).Two months, complete file.
05
Licence and launch
Consideration paid in full or by annual instalment; limits and self-exclusion live from the first player.Seven years running.
Quick facts
RegulatorHGC (EEEP)
Type 1 - betting€3,000,000
Type 2 - casino, poker€2,000,000
Licence term7 years
Guarantee€500,000 per licence
Paid-up capital€200,000
Statutory clock2 months, complete file
Realistic timelinePlan for 6-9 months
The two-month clock runs only on a complete file, and an incomplete one left uncured is rejected tacitly (art. 5.5). We file once, complete.
On the ground in Greece
Run from our Athens office.
Prifinance - Greece
Athens · Greece
Athens, Greece
01
Suitability files for people
Shareholders, directors and key staff each need their own Suitability Licence. We build every personal file in parallel with the company file, so neither waits on the other.Suitability files in parallel.
02
Hosting, Safe and .gr
The EU/EEA data centre, the Safe server on Greek territory and the .gr domain, specified with your platform provider before filing.Safe in Greece, .gr live.
03
Capital and guarantee
€200,000 paid up, and a €500,000 letter of guarantee per licence negotiated with a bank - held for the term plus one year.€500,000 per licence, arranged.
04
The HGC file
Drafted complete so the two-month clock of art. 5.4 starts on filing, with every HGC question answered from Athens.Complete on day one.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Väike-Paala tn 1
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Budapest
Hungary
Korányi Sándor u. 4
Good to know
Taxation of gaming operators in Greece.
Two charges sit on gross gaming revenue. The licence price is a capital decision of its own.
State share of gross profit
Art. 50 of Law 4002/2011 and art. 32.8b of the Regulation give the State a share of each licensee's gross profit. We confirm the current rate with the HGC before quoting.Art. 50 rate, confirmed.
0.5% to the HGC
Art. 28 par. 7a of Law 4002/2011 lists 0.5% of the gross gaming revenue of all games of chance among the HGC's resources.On gross gaming revenue.
Consideration in instalments
€3,000,000 (Type 1) or €2,000,000 (Type 2) for seven years, in one payment or four equal annual ones of €750,000 or €500,000.Four equal annual parts.
The guarantee as a carrying cost
€500,000 per licence, held for the seven-year term plus one year before release. The bank's fee for it belongs in the model.Held term plus one year.
€10,000 that stays paid
The application fee is non-refundable (art. 5.1). A file rejected tacitly for incompleteness loses it.Non-refundable.
Corporate tax and VAT
Profit tax, VAT on gaming and any tax on players' winnings are modelled per structure and confirmed in the quote.Modelled per structure.
Tax summary
State share of gross profitArt. 50 rate · confirmed in the quote
HGC levy0.5% of GGR
Licence consideration€3M / €2M per 7 years
Guarantee€500,000 per licence
Corporate tax and VATModelled per structure
*As of 2026 per Law 4002/2011 and the 2020 Online Gaming Regulation. Group and founder-level outcomes are modelled per structure.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the application file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: Greek or EU/EEA company, AML/KYC policy pack, capital structure and tax registrations. His document sets are the reason reviews finish in months, not years.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
First point of contact for international founders. Runs the whole setup remotely, across time zones and languages - from the first call to a live, licensed operator.
Follow Prifinance
Active across our channels.
Greece · HGC
Launch your gaming project in Greece with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from Suitability Licences and the EU/EEA structure to the guarantee, the Safe server in Greece and the HGC decision - run through our Athens office.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is Greece the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Greece gaming licence, answered.
What licences does the HGC issue for online gaming?+
Two, under art. 3.1 of the 2020 Online Gaming Regulation: Type 1 for online betting on sports, fantasy sports and virtual events, and Type 2 for casino games, poker variants and live dealer. Suppliers and affiliates hold Suitability Licences rather than either type.
What does a Greek online licence cost?+
€3,000,000 for Type 1 and €2,000,000 for Type 2, each for seven years, paid at once or in four equal annual instalments. On top: a €10,000 non-refundable application fee, a €500,000 guarantee per licence and €200,000 of paid-up capital.
How long does the HGC take?+
Two months from a complete application, under art. 5.4 of the Regulation; an incomplete file that is not cured is rejected tacitly. With Suitability Licences, hosting and the guarantee to build first, plan for 6-9 months end to end.
Can a foreign company apply?+
Yes, if it is established in the EU/EEA: the Regulation accepts legal persons with a registered office or permanent establishment in Greece or another EU/EEA state (art. 4.1a), with a process agent where the applicant is abroad. Groups from outside the EU apply through an EU/EEA entity.
What technical set-up does Greece require?+
A central system in an EU/EEA data centre (art. 32.10), data capture and sealing inside the EU/EEA, a Safe server on Greek territory (arts. 33.6, 33.8) and a website on a .gr domain. Payment providers must be established in Greece or the EU/EEA.
How is online gaming taxed in Greece?+
Through the State's share of each licensee's gross profit under art. 50 of Law 4002/2011, whose current rate we confirm with the HGC before quoting, plus the 0.5% of gross gaming revenue that art. 28 assigns to the HGC. Corporate tax and VAT are modelled per structure.
What does the €500,000 guarantee cover?+
Breaches of the licence terms and winnings not paid immediately (art. 5.7). It is held per licence and released one year after the licence expires. In 2024 BetShop suddenly suspended online betting, and on 23.09.2024 the HGC opened a procedure to recover players' funds.
What role does OPAP play?+
The incumbent's. Law 4972/2022 gives OPAP exclusive rights for 20 years over KINO, TZOKER and land-based betting, with the state lotteries and horse racing held through subsidiaries, and lets it run those games online. Type 1 and Type 2 licensees meet OPAP online; its land-based exclusivity stays closed.
Greece or Cyprus for a sportsbook?+
They are separate markets, so the honest answer can be both. Cyprus does entry cost better: Class B betting costs €30,000 for one year or €45,000 for two, against €3,000,000 for a Greek Type 1. Greece also licenses online casino, which Cyprus does not, and Greek players are reachable only under an HGC licence.
Why Prifinance for Greece?+
We run Greek files from our Athens office: Suitability Licences for every owner and director, EU/EEA hosting with the Safe server in Greece, the €500,000 guarantee arranged with a bank, and an HGC application filed complete so the two-month clock starts on day one.
What licences?+
Type 1 betting · Type 2 casino.
Cost?+
€3M or €2M per 7 years.
How long?+
2 months statutory; plan 6-9.
Foreign company?+
EU/EEA, with a process agent.
Tech set-up?+
Safe in Greece, .gr domain.
Taxes?+
Art. 50 share + 0.5% levy.
Guarantee?+
€500,000, for unpaid winnings.
OPAP?+
20-year exclusivity, online too.
Or Cyprus?+
Cheaper betting entry; no casino.
Why you?+
Athens office, complete files.
Client notes
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Get a free legal opinion on your project - our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which Greek licence type fits your project and what the seven years will cost.
✓Written legal opinion within 2-5 business days - free of charge✓A clear recommendation on the right licence scope, not a sales pitch✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU · ES speaking team
Prifinance is an independent law and advisory firm. We are not a regulator and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.