Best casino sites in Greece

Population: 10,8 million
Active Players: 3 million
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Regulated Gambling Products: Casino, sports betting, horse racing, lottery, poker
Operator Types: Land-based and online casinos, offshore online casinos
Designated Authority: Hellenic Gaming Commission
Status: Grey market – partly regulated

Greece is a south-eastern European country with a vibrant history and many superlatives tied to its name. The birthplace of τηε Western civilization, Ancient Greece was a melting pot that introduced democracy, philosophy, geometry, and medicine, among others. Games and competitions are also part of the Greek culture from ancient times. The first Olympics took place in 776 BC, and as one might expect, gambling has been a part of the Greek culture throughout the millennia. 

Even though the recent economic problems put Greek citizens to the test, the passion for wagering is still there at present times. So, if you want to enjoy the services of a great online casino, Greece is the place to be. All forms of online gambling are legal, and there’s a new framework in place to grant licenses to operators, after many years of OPAP monopoly and interim licenses.

There’s a balanced mix of casinos in Greece, with local operators like Stoixman or big international names such as bet365 or Bwin. In the following paragraphs, we’re going to take a close look at important aspects concerning online gambling in the country, as well as vital information for players.

Did You Know That?

• The legal gambling age in Greece is 21
• The Hellenic Gaming Commission is responsible for issuing licenses and overseeing all gambling activities in the country
• Unlicensed operators are blocked and added to an ever-growing blacklist
• Gambling wins of under €100 per betting line are tax-free
• No actions are taken against Greek casino players that choose the services of offshore online casinos

Casino Sites in Greece

In your journey to find the best online casino in Greece you should know that the landscape is split between licensed operators and offshore casinos that accept Greek players. Therefore, we’ll analyze both options and check out their benefits and downsides.

Legal Casino Sites in Greece

Before the new licensing process was set into place, 24 operators got interim licenses back in 2011. These operators were in pole-position to apply for a new license, however, other operators were quick to join the race as well. Mostly big names in the industry, all legally operating casinos in Greece are delivering great services to players. There are no strict restrictions on welcome bonuses or the games available to play and that makes them very appealing to casino enthusiasts.

International Casino Sites in Greece

Even though there are plenty of licensed casinos to enjoy in Greece, players still choose the services of international casino sites as well. If these sites were once placed on the blacklist, they won’t be able to apply for a license in the following 12 months. The main advantage of offshore casinos consists of higher and more frequent bonus offers. Also, international casinos can offer more games since they can host software providers that are not licensed by the Hellenic authorities.

Welcome Bonuses and Deposit Limits

For most players, the best casino sites Greece has to offer are the ones with a consistent welcome bonus. The first deposit bonus is vital for players that want to boost their balance and increase winning chances. Therefore, both the licensed and international operators made sure to come with competitive offers. You can usually expect to get a 100% welcome bonus with limits of up to €100 for licensed operators. The international casinos can push that limit even higher, to €300 or even more while also adding some free spins packs. Both licensed and offshore casinos usually accept a minimum deposit of €10 for the welcome bonus. 

Casinos with EUR

No matter if you play on your desktop or prefer a mobile casino, Greece is the country where you will find plenty of operators offering EUR as standard currency. Since the European currency is used in so many countries, it’s a must-have for any casino that wants to succeed. Playing in your local currency means not having to worry about currency exchange fees and always knowing how much bonus you get or what the wagering requirements are. 

How to Deposit and Withdraw on Greek Casino Sites?

To properly enjoy a casino Greece online and win real money, you’ll obviously need to make a deposit. Luckily, both the licensed and offshore operators offer plenty of deposit and withdrawal methods so this process is smooth and easy.

Bank Transfer

While there’s no dedicated online gambling bank transfer tool to use by Greek players, deposits and withdrawals are possible through internet banking. All the major Greek banks offer internet banking and you can easily deposit using your smartphone or computer.

eWallet Options

Ewallets are a very popular payment option at online casino for Greece-based players. This deposit method is so popular that Greek aficionados even have a local option – Viva wallet. Of course, Neteller and Skrill are also available and supported by all casino operators in the country while many casinos have also started accepting Paypal.

Mobile Payments

The Viva wallet can also be used easily from a mobile device. However, if you are looking for a mobile payment method that doesn’t require any other details, Boku is available in Greece as well. 

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency casinos are gaining a lot of momentum all across the globe, which’s the case for Greece. However, you will only find offshore casinos that accept Bitcoin or ETH deposits. The licensed ones only support fiat currency at the moment.

How to Create and Verify Your Account on Greek Casino Sites

After you’ve identified the operator you want to play at and are ready to get the best casino bonus for Greece-based players, it’s time to create an account. To do so, you need to complete the registration form, and here are the rough steps you’ll need to follow:

• Open the casino site or mobile application
• Look for the Join” or “Sign Up” button and click/tap on it
• You’ll immediately be redirected to a registration form asking for personal details. It’s usually the full name, email address, phone number, date of birth, and other similar information. Just make sure to complete all the mandatory fields.
• Next, you will be asked to choose a username and set a password for your account
• Some casinos that use Promo Codes will also ask you to insert one if you have it
• Start enjoying your favorite casino games

It’s a good idea to verify your account at an online casino if you’re planning to play there for a longer time. A fully-verified account is not only safer, but it can also mean faster withdrawals and other benefits. To do so, you can either visit the “Verification” section of the casino if the operator offers something like this or simply email the verification documents. The usual documents requested include a photo ID, a proof of payment (copy of the card used, or screenshot with the bank account), and proof of address (utility or official statement with your address on it).

What Can We Expect from Greek Gambling Law Changes?

Since changes to the way Greece regulates online gambling were recently made, other updates are less likely to appear in the near future. It looks like the Hellenic Gaming Commission is very happy with how things are going at the moment and the state also enjoys the benefits of the 35% tax on operators. The next steps will probably focus on regulating gambling advertisements and fighting against unlicensed operators.