Best Betting Sites in Greece

Where to bet safely in Greece and which online bookmakers to join?

Get to know which leading betting sites in Greece enjoy popularity among players in the country by studying the table we have provided below. See what welcome bonuses for Greek punters are available and choose the best bookmaker to sign up with.

Best Bookies in Greece Listed

1. 22bet – Best bookie for Greece
2. Novibet – Great range of bonuses
3. Interwetten – Top-notch sportsbook

Greece’s TOP Bookmakers

When the Greek government allowed for foreign bookies to apply for licenses in the country, it attracted some massive names in the industry. Even with the changes in the law, the Greek gambling market still has a vibrant selection of top bookmakers. Most of these online betting sites in Greece are based in foreign countries, as it is much easier for them tax-wise. In this section, we have highlighted some of the best Greek betting sites. With these Greece bookmakers, you will be getting a comprehensive gaming platform that combines sports betting and online casinos.

22bet

22bet is a casino and bookmaker popular mainly among Eastern Europeans, although it welcomes players from more than 60 countries. Greek bettors can wager on a wide number of sports, including football, tennis, ice hockey, volleyball, boxing, etc. At the time of writing, no other Greek bookie offers such competitive odds in the top leagues. Bet Builder, cash out, in-play betitng, and quick bet are some of the features Greek customers can use.

Novibet

Launched in 2010, Novibet is a relatively unknown entrant into the global online gambling industry. Novibet.gr has done a lot to establish itself as respectable gaming and betting platform in Greece. The site delivers a solid online gaming experience that combines a rich sportsbook with a highly entertaining online casino. In addition to this rich betting opportunities, Novibet comes highly recommended for the following pros as well:

If you are a Greek player looking to bet at a world-renowned betting site, then Interwetten would be a good choice. This is a company that has extensive penetration in the global gambling market. Interwetten is a key player in Europe in particular, and it gives you the guarantee of playing and transacting your money in a secure platform, with multiple betting markets.

What to consider when choosing a Betting Site in Greece?

As hinted earlier, the Greek gambling market has a strong presence of the offshore betting site. Though most of these operate without being licensed in Greece, they bring in the much-needed competition and variety for players. However, in such a market, there is always the risk of ending up in some rogue site that messes up your money. As such, it is advisable to have some strategy when browsing through the numerous Greek bookmakers. To aid you with this search, we have given you a few pointers. By asking this question, you will eventually land at the best Greek sports betting website, in addition to the ones we have recommended above.

• Does the bookmaker have a license?
  It is ultimately one of the most important factors to consider on any bookie. Licensing is very important since it, to some extent, legitimizes the bookie. If the bookie you intend to play not licensed in Greece, where is it licensed? Does the license allow the bookie to operate in offshore markets? Is the licensing authority reputable when it comes to solving disputes?
• How friendly is the bookie’s user interface on both the website and mobile app?
  A right bookie should have an interactive user interface that is not only good looking but also practical. If the bookie has a mobile app, the app should equally be easy to use. You wouldn’t want to end up with a betting app where it is even hard to locate your bet slip.
• Are there any bonuses offered by the betting site?
  One of the main advantages of online gambling is that you will have more bonuses compared to traditional land-based casinos. When choosing your best bookie in Greece, check the promotions they offer and compare the terms with those of other sites.
• What are the supported payment methods?
  It is very important since not all e-wallets and online payment methods are available in all countries. You can start by making a list of the payment methods that you can easily access then filter the sites at your disposal with those that accept these payment methods. Still, at the cashier section, check if there are any fees applicable for deposits and also withdrawals.
• How do I contact the customer support on the site?
  Whether it is about delayed payments or a casino game that won’t load as it should, we all end up needing to contact the customer support team at some point. It is therefore important you play at a bookie whose support team is readily accessible. Here you can also check if the customer support team offers assistance in Greek or what other languages are available.

Betting in Greece – Trivia

• Currency: Euro
• Population: 10,770,000
• Active Players: 3,000,000
• Designated Authority: Hellenic Gaming Commission
• Regulated Gambling Products: Land casinos, online betting sites, sports betting shops
• Types of Operators: State-controlled OPAP, regulated online operators, unlicensed online operators based in offshore territories

Did you know that?

• It is estimated that active players in Greece spend between €250 and €300 every year on gambling
• Sports betting is way more popular in Greece than online casino gaming
• The online gambling market in Greece is currently estimated to be worth more than €300 billion
• Currently, Greece has only eight licensed land casinos
• The legal gambling age in Greece is 23 years

Gambling in Greece

Greece, credited for being the cradle of civilization and democracy is a country in Europe. For centuries, Greece has been a significant power player in the European region. Gambling has for years been an integral part of this developed nation, with many people taking up betting games as a hobby. There is keen interest in sports betting markets, considering Greece is the birthplace of the Olympics games. As things moved online at the turn of the millennium, the government’s stance towards gambling was changed. There was a general dislike of the idea that people could now place bets and play casino games online. This resulted in some laws that prohibited online gambling.

But with the recent economic downturns in Greece, we have seen a lot of changes in the government’s attitude, perhaps as an indication of them acknowledging the billions they are losing from shadow gambling. In this article, we will provide you with a detailed guide on online betting in Greece. In the next section, we will be explaining these laws around betting in Greece. We will also provide details of where to bet online in Greece as well as samples of the best Greece betting sites.

Is gambling in Greece legal?

To start the guide on online gambling in Greece, it is important we first debunk the legal status of online gambling. Gambling is legal in Greece. However, just as with many other markets, there are rules of play on the nature of gambling that permitted in the country. For the longest time, the government has operated a monopoly on the Greek gambling market. This resulted in the negative approach towards online gambling, and in 2002, a law was passed, making all forms of electronic gaming.

The problem with such blanket laws is that they are usually not very clear in the wordings. For instance, this 2002 law technically made it illegal to even play a PS game in a public setting, which is quite absurd. For some time, the market operated in this absurdity, creating a black market estimated to be worth over $5 billion in offshore betting revenues. Such figures in light of the recent economic misfortunes, made the Greek government reevaluate their stand.

In 2011, the government opened up and made slots machines and online betting platform legal, albeit for a short time. During this window period, about 24 operators were licensed to operate in the Greek market, with the majority being foreign-based companies. Shortly after that, there was another change of tune by the government, making the state-owned OPAP the sole licensed operator of online gambling in Greece. The intention of these changes was to make this monopoly last until 2030. The uproar that followed after that from key stakeholders has caused another change of mind.

In a recent proposal from the Greek government, foreign operators can reapply for their licenses. This will, however, come at some very steep cost implications.

For now, it is entirely legal for players in Greece to gamble in both sports betting markets and casinos.

Do Greek Players get restricted by some bookmakers? Why?

The Greek gambling market has been quite attractive to many operators. Even during the times when it was still illegal to gamble online in Greece, many people could still access and bet on the offshore betting sites. Currently, you will seldom find any site-blocking Greek players. In instances where this happens, you will get an error message showing that you are not allowed to access the said site. It is the expectation of many that the recent proposal to liberalize the online gambling market sails through to make it legal for more offshore betting sites to operate in Greece.

How much tax do you pay on gambling winnings in Greece?

When the government decided to go after the revenues of the gambling industry, they indeed went all in. Unlike most developed nations where gambling is not taxed, Greece charged some tax on money made from gambling. This is a variable tax regime which means that the rate charged depends on the amount won. The table below shows how these taxes are applied:

About the gambling market

Greece has a very fluid gambling market. This mainly influenced by the frequently changing laws on gambling, especially online gambling. To a large extent, land-based casinos sector has operated as a monopoly, with OPAP being the sole player. Greece currently has eight legally operating land casinos. These located in major tourist cities and islands. But as it is the case with many other highly regulated markets, you will not fail to find several illegal gaming halls around the cities, mainly operating as poker rooms.

In the online sector, things have changed quite a lot recently. The move by the government to liberalize the market has created room for competition, with more offshore companies showing interest in the Greek market. Initially, when the 2011 law was passed, it pushed out many of the 24 interim license holders. This is set to change if the licenses get renewed as intimated in the recent proposals. However, the high licensing fees and taxation on operators is still a major blocker to the growth of the online gambling market. Considering that the Greek economy is doing much better now than it was a few years back, there will be more disposable income per household. This is, therefore, an industry that has the potential for growth if only the government would allow it to develop to its full competitive potential.

The most popular betting features and options in Greece

The sports betting in Greece covers plenty of markets. Since most of the operators in the online gambling market here are also in the global market, they have brought in new ideas around sports betting. Companies such as Unibet have been at the forefront of this innovation. As such, you will find that Greek players are pretty much into the following features:

• In-play betting
  Players like the flexibility of in-play betting on live matches. It is a feature that gives players more control on their bets as they can determine when it is most profitable to enter the bet.
• Cash-outs
  Early cash-outs are seen by many players extra security hedging them against a greater loss if they would have waited for the bet to settled.
• Bet Editing
  It is a relatively new feature, but it is gaining a lot of popularity since it allows them to modify their bets even after confirming the bet.
• Accumulator Bets
  Accumulator bets entail adding more than one event to the same bet slip, resulting into enhanced odds.

Available bonuses for Greek Players

The transitions in the Greek gambling market have created room for numerous offshore operators to jump in. Consequently, the competition keeps on building up among the betting site operators. One of the most common results of such competition is a market full of attractive bonuses and promotions, as each bookie strives to draw in more players. As such, you are guaranteed to find some perfect deals in the Greek betting market, whether as a new player or a regular punter. Some new entrants such as Unibet go hard on their bonuses, offering as much as 1,500 Euros of free play money for their new sign-ups.

The bonuses in this market will range from hundreds to thousands of Euros, depending on the site you choose to play. While free play money might be attractive, it is also important to consider the rollover requirements for such bonuses which could be ridiculously high.

The favourite sports of the Greek bettors

Greece is the birthplace of the Olympics. It is a nation with a high rate of sports participation, which could be why sports betting is a popular pastime. Various forms of athletics are quite popular in Greece. However, when it comes to betting numbers, football takes the lion’s share in the market. There are also increased betting numbers in cycling, ice hockey, and basketball. There is also considerable attention paid to horse racing, especially for bookies that feature competitions in Greek racetracks.

Are Online Casinos popular on the market?

Despite the government’s ban on online gaming, many Greek players still attracted to online casino gaming. Of the total revenues made from online gambling, sports betting still leads by contributing about 60%. The popularity of online casinos is, however on the rise, especially with more operators joining the market.

Unlike many other markets in Europe, poker is not that popular in Greece. Instead, the Greeks prefer other card games of skill and backgammon. Slots are also on the rise in popularity since most online casinos will have slots as the main product offered.

Currency and Preferred Payment Methods in Greece

Greece is part of the European Union and thus adopted the Euro as its main currency in 2002. Most of the betting sites operating on a global level will readily accept payments in Euros, among other major currencies. The payment methods available in the Greece gambling market are a mix of e-wallets, payment vouchers, credit and debit cards. Here players can quickly load funds using payment methods such as Visa, MasterCard, Viva Wallet, Skrill, and Neteller.

It is also worth noting that payments using bank cards or direct bank transfers might come under scrutiny due to the capital controls in Greece. These are measure put in place by the Greek government to limit how much money one can move from their bank accounts, as a way of controlling the collapsing economy.

Bookies with mobile apps for Greek customers

Mobile betting is a key feature of the Greek gambling market. Operators targeting the Greek market acknowledge that most of the bets placed here are via smartphones or tablets. It has led to nearly all operators coming up with mobile gaming solutions. For some, they opt to develop mobile-optimized sites that load on regular mobile browsers.

But for a richer gaming experience, the downloadable mobile app is the way to go. With big brands such as Unibet operating in the market, players will have enough mobile betting apps to choose. Some other apps worth checking out are the William Hill and Bwin apps, which are available for both Android and iOS platforms.

Final comment

The Greek market is an interesting one by many measures and standards. Currently contributing nearly as much as 1% of the Greek economy, this is a sector that has great potential for growth. The government does seem to acknowledge this, which is why they are keen on having a share of the cake. However, if this means imposing a total monopoly on the market, then it will eventually end up doing more harm than good. If the government can strike a balance of strong regulations and ease of market entry, it could result in more operators jumping in thus developing the Greek gambling market to its full potential.

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