Participation in gambling activities in Greece has reached striking levels, with illegal betting absorbing €1.8 billion in 2025 alone—and younger age groups showing disproportionately high engagement rates. According to the annual report published by the Hellenic Gaming Commission and presented to Parliament, the scale of unlicensed gambling is alarming—not only in terms of revenue lost to the formal economy but also in its deep penetration across the population. Overall, 54.5% of Greek citizens reported having played at least one game of chance during the previous year.
€1.8 Billion Lost to Unregulated Gambling
The total amount wagered on unlicensed gambling platforms in 2025 reached €1.8 billion—funds flowing outside Greece’s legal, regulated framework. These operations lack consumer safeguards, transparency, and oversight, meaning neither player protection nor public revenue collection can be guaranteed.
Average Annual Spend: €2,027 per Player
On average, each individual who participated in unlicensed gambling spent €2,027 in 2025—roughly €169 per month. This figure underscores the financial intensity of the problem, especially among certain demographics.
Youth Dominates the Illegal Market
Perhaps most concerning is the age profile of illegal gambling participants. Nearly half—49.7%—are aged 44 or younger. In other words, almost one in two players in the illicit sector belongs to Greece’s youngest and most economically active cohorts—those most comfortable with digital platforms and online transactions.
A closer look reveals even sharper trends: those aged 18–24 account for 9.7% of illegal gamblers; the 25–34 group makes up 19.1%; and the 45–54 cohort represents 20.1%. All these percentages exceed the respective groups’ share of the general population—indicating that certain age brackets are participating in unlicensed gambling at significantly higher rates than their demographic weight would suggest.
Legal Gambling Remains Widespread
Despite the growth of illegal activity, participation in licensed, state-regulated gambling remains substantial. Over half of all Greek citizens—54.5%—reported playing at least one legal game of chance in 2025. This confirms that gambling has become a mainstream leisure activity across broad segments of society—not confined to niche or marginal groups.
Young adults aged 18–34 show the highest relative participation in legal gambling as well, with 58% reporting at least one instance of play during the year.