The official skinny on the Greek online gambling blacklist

Wednesday’s shock announcement that the Greek Independent Administrative Authority’s Hellenic Gaming Commission has issued an online gambling blacklist of 401 internet gambling firms has been followed by an official communication from the Greek regulator, headed “List of sites providing gaming and betting services without authorisation in Greece”.

The statement acknowledges that the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC), as the public body responsible for the control and supervision of gambling services in Greece, has compiled and issued a blacklist of unlicensed websites illegally offering unlicensed betting and gambling services to Greek players.

It goes on:

“This list was transmitted to 211 Internet service providers (ISPs) and credit institutions, through the Bank of Greece, in order to move forward on their own actions, as provided for in the relevant provisions.

“Also, the list was transmitted to the competent prosecuting Authorities and criminal (Misdemeanors Athens Prosecutor, Financial and E-crime Prosecution Department of financial police) in connection with their own powers, since the supply of gambling without a license is a serious criminal offence referred to in article 52 of law No. 4002/2011 (s 180).

“The list (black list), contains 401 sites, which were found by the HGC to offer, without permission, to the public in Greece, gambling and betting services, through checks carried out two different days at different times. Each site is checked from two different places.

“The list (black list), is the first version. The list is dynamic, which means that it will be enriched by ongoing investigations.”