A case involving 18 influencers has been referred to the prosecutor following a criminal complaint by the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) over the promotion of illegal online gambling. Their Instagram accounts have a combined 3.6 million followers, with the largest having 623,000.
According to data presented by the HGC, the influencers used posts, videos and links to promote 11 unlicensed websites and eight unlicensed operators. The case remains at the preliminary investigation stage, and no decision has yet been made on whether criminal charges will be brought. Under the new regulatory framework, the HGC can also impose administrative fines of up to €50,000 per violation for illegal online gambling promotion.
The 18 influencers have a combined 3.6 million followers on Instagram, with the largest account having 623,000.
The increased scrutiny comes as illegal gambling remains widespread. An estimated 900,000 people participated in illegal gambling in 2025, wagering nearly €1.8 billion in total, while around 15,000 websites have been added to the blacklist.
Artificial intelligence will also play a central role in the HGC’s new supervisory strategy. The Commission plans to use AI to detect illegal websites, networks and promotional channels more quickly, as well as to protect players. In a pilot programme involving more than 200,000 online players, AI analyses anonymised behavioural data, including playing time, deposits, withdrawals and changes in losses, to identify early signs of problem gambling.
Sources: To Vima, Kathimerini
What is fyi.news?
