Greece implements accelerated DNS blocking regime to fight illegal online gambling
2026-07-16
Source: Yogonet
Greece has approved a DNS-based enforcement framework that accelerates website blocking and domain suspensions for illegal online gambling, with the Hellenic Gaming Commission and telecoms regulator cooperating on intelligence-sharing and technical standards. The reform introduces steep fines and up to 10-year prison sentences for serious offences.
Greece has adopted a new DNS-based enforcement system designed to speed up the identification and blocking of unlicensed gambling websites, marking a significant escalation in its campaign against the growing black market for online betting.
The framework, part of the broader New Gambling Framework bill drafted by Minister of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis, formalises a cooperation agreement between the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) and the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT). The two regulators will work together to tighten controls over domains that facilitate unauthorised gambling activity.
Under the system, the EEEP will move beyond simply maintaining a public blacklist of illegal sites. It will now integrate blocked domains into a dedicated Response Policy Zone (RPZ) within its DNS infrastructure, allowing for faster and more coordinated blocking as unlicensed operators frequently switch between domains and digital services. The EETT will be responsible for setting the technical and operational standards that govern how telecommunications infrastructure connects to the EEEP's DNS server, with those specifications developed jointly.
A new intelligence-sharing mechanism will see the EETT provide the EEEP with weekly reports of newly registered ".gr" domains and other country-code domains operating in Greece. The gaming regulator will cross-reference these against its blacklist. When a domain is linked to illegal gambling, the EEEP will order its suspension, and the EETT will oversee temporary deactivation, preventing re-registration for two months before assessing whether permanent removal from the ".gr" or ".ελ" registries is warranted. Officials described the shift as moving from a reactive approach to a more proactive monitoring system.
The legislation also introduces stricter penalties. Individuals and businesses facilitating illegal gambling could face administrative fines running into millions of euros, while the most serious criminal offences carry potential prison sentences of up to 10 years.
Greek authorities have described the reforms as the first comprehensive EU legal framework specifically targeting the online gambling black market through technology-driven enforcement. The government has informed the European Commission that the measures are intended to bolster consumer protection, safeguard vulnerable groups, and reduce the economic harm caused by illegal gambling.