Greek authorities have filed complaints against 18 social media influencers accused of promoting illegal gambling sites, Economy and Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis confirmed during a visit to the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC).[1] The cases are at a preliminary investigation stage, and no criminal liability has been found so far.
New powers for the regulator
The complaints are part of a wider push against the ecosystem that supports unlicensed gambling — websites, social channels and endorsers, not just the operators themselves. Under a strengthened framework, the HGC can now impose immediate administrative fines of up to €50,000 per violation for promoting illegal gambling online, and about 110 new positions have been created at the regulator, including 40 specialist roles.
"The internet is not a jungle," Pierrakakis said. "Popularity offers no immunity and influence carries responsibility."
A Europe-wide trend
Greece isn't alone. In June, a Finnish court fined a content creator for promoting offshore casino bonuses on Instagram and Kick, and Spain's regulator has consulted on tighter rules for influencer and celebrity gambling marketing.
What it means for you
If a streamer or influencer promotes a casino, check it yourself before you sign up: who runs it, which regulator licenses it, and whether it's licensed for your country. Our guide to choosing a safe online casino walks you through it, and our affiliate disclosure explains how we handle our own partnerships.
Sources
- Greece targets influencer marketing in unlicensed gambling crackdown — NEXT.io, 8 October 2026 ↩
