Greek Finance Minister defends higher tax on online casino winnings

Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Greece’s Finance Minister, has reaffirmed the government’s decision to raise taxes on winnings from online casino games, citing the need to generate additional funds for public services.

Official figures released in October show that tax withheld from gambling winnings reached €369 million (£307 million) between January and August 2026. This represents a 27.3% increase compared to the €290 million collected during the same period the previous year.

The tax hike applies specifically to online casino winnings, with the government aiming to capture a larger share of revenue from the growing digital gambling sector. Pierrakakis emphasized that the measure is part of broader fiscal policies designed to support state-funded services.

While total gross gambling revenue (GGR) also rose during the period, the exact figure was not disclosed in the available data. The increase in tax collection aligns with the government’s strategy to tighten oversight and taxation of online gambling activities.

The decision has drawn attention from industry stakeholders, though Pierrakakis has not indicated any plans to reverse the policy. The tax adjustment remains in effect as Greece continues to regulate its online gambling market.