The gambling policy debate in Greece is shifting focus from accessibility to exposure. In a recommendation by the Hellenic National Bioethics and Technoethics Commission, the major concern goes beyond the fact that minors gamble illegally. The steady presence of gambling in teenagers’ digital environment is also highlighted. According to the commission, the rapid development of online betting and gaming apps results in exposure for minors, even though Greek law forbids access for them.
The Concern Goes Beyond Illegal Operators
One of the notable points in the document is that the legal market can also pose a risk to minors. The commission stresses how gambling is highly promoted in sports programs and online advertisements. It also highlights the broader link between betting brands and professional sports. The risk the commission points to is that the exposure can normalize gambling for the young before they are old enough to participate.
The recommendation refers to the data from the public health sector. According to insights from the National Organization for the Prevention and Treatment of Addictions, the number of young adults of 18-25 who seek help for a gambling disorder almost quadrupled from 2022 to 2025. The same material indicates that many of those young people started gambling in childhood or adolescence. Furthermore, Greece has one of the highest levels of gambling participation and excessive gambling among 16-year-olds across European countries.
What the Commission Wants Changed
The commission is calling for a broader approach. Among its recommendations are legal limits on gambling advertising on radio and TV (especially on slot advertising associated with sports events and other programs popular among youth). The commission also proposes clearer rules on the frequency of gambling advertising on the internet and its content, including clearer self-regulatory rules under the sector’s advertising code.
The proposals go beyond advertising. Inside the document are calls for school-based awareness campaigns about the risks of addiction, matching existing prevention efforts. In addition, the commission seeks tougher identification verification via Gov Wallet and limits on prepaid debit cards. The latter are seen as popular methods among younger people that help bypass existing regulations.
A Test for Greece’s Regulatory Priorities
This recommendation looks significant, as it broadens the context for the problem of underage gambling. The commission is advising Greece to reassess the way betting is promoted to young people and tighten protections before exposure turns into participation. That would shift the discussion from mere access control to a broader question of how early gambling habits and perceptions are formed.
