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Best Greek Online Poker Sites 2024
Lying in the south of the Balkans, Greece (or Ελλάδα in Greek), is a country with a rich history. The cradle of civilization gave us democracy and the brightest minds the world has ever seen. And while the country’s economy isn’t in the best shape, it’s still a major tourist attraction. And when it comes to poker, it also has a lot to offer, as online poker in Greece was recently revived thanks to the new legislation. Follow this guide to discover the best poker sites and find out what promotions, MTTs, and rakeback are waiting for Greek online players.
Best poker sites for Greek players
With online poker legalized in Greece, players may face a complex situation choosing to play on one of the few licensed websites (and pay a massive tax) or grind across offshore sites. Looking for a poker room with some nice Hold’em or Omaha action? Go ahead and pick one of the best poker sites in Greece below.
How did we come up with the list of the top poker sites in Greece? We took a few aspects into account:
- Available around the clock. You can access the platform without alternative links.
- Multiple banking options, including all major e-wallets and cryptocurrency.
- High player trust. Grinders recommend these websites.
- Hefty bonuses, decent rakeback, loyalty programs.
Americas Cardroom
The flagship of the Winning Poker Network skins, Americas Cardroom is a US-oriented platform that welcomes new players with a $2,000 first deposit bonus and a flexible rakeback system – you can choose either a fixed 27% rakeback or stick to the loyalty program and go up to 65% over time. The rake for NLH and PLO tables is 5%.
Betonline Poker
Operated by the Chico network, BetOnline poker offers a massive guaranteed monthly prize pool that reaches $10M, lots of Texas Hold’em tables with American players, and regular MTTs. Newcomers can benefit from a 100% welcome match bonus of up to $1,000. The rake for all cash games reaches 5.5%.
Club-based apps
The new wave of club-based apps is always a great solution for regulated markets. Greeks can access dozens of clubs with hundreds of tables around the clock via mobile apps like PPPoker or PokerBros. Our deal grants access to over 30 clubs with money guarantees and monthly rakeback. Deposits and withdrawals are processed with our team in working hours seven days a week.
Online poker in Greece
The situation with online poker in Greece has drastically changed over the past 20 years. In 2002, the country prohibited virtually all forms of online gambling, replacing the total ban with temporary licenses in 2011. For nearly a decade, the Greek gambling market was dominated by state-owned operators before the HGC, or Hellenic Gaming Commission, began issuing permanent licenses to private companies operating overseas.
Up until 2021, only one operator had the monopoly on online poker – Organization of Football Prognostics S.A (OPAP). However, the company didn’t exploit this advantage, having any online poker rooms. Today, foreign poker networks can receive a type 2 license to legally run a poker site. Several platforms, including PokerStars, Bwin, NetBet Poker, and Novibet already have a website with a Greek domain.
Legal background of online poker in Greece
The laws behind online poker in Greece are based on Law 4002/2011 amended by Law 4635/2019 which established several key changes to the gambling industry. The new amendment defined poker as the game of chance and allowed offshore operators to apply for a license from the Hellenic Gaming Commission. To provide legal services in the country, a company must obtain a type 2 license that covers all kinds of gambling.
In short, online poker is legal in Greece in all aspects. Players can safely register in offshore poker sites and use credit/debit cards to withdraw money in the local currency (winnings are subjected to taxation). Also, you won’t face any punishment by law for playing on platforms without a Greek license.
Tax
If you choose to play a licensed poke website, all your winnings per one session that go beyond €100 will be subject to a gambling tax:
- 15% tax for winnings from €100.01 to €500;
- 20% tax for winnings more than €500.01.
Thus, if your player account gains less than €100 by the end of the poker session, you won’t have to cover any taxes. Similarly, all winnings on platforms operating without a license are non-taxable.
Available deposit and withdrawal methods
Due to Greece’s semi-friendly gambling laws, the selection of banking options is wide. You can safely use credit and debit cards for deposits and withdrawals, although most online poker players prefer digital wallets. The most common payment methods in Greece are:
- Credit/debit cards: Visa, MasterCard;
- E-wallets: Neteller, Skrill, Viva Wallet, MuchBetter, ecoPayz, and others;
- Pre-paid cards: Astropay, PaySafeCard;
- Crypto: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Ripple, etc.
Best Greek poker players
With a total amount of money won by poker players reaching over $54M, Greece is ranked 36th in the country list, according to the Hendon Mob. The country has a fair share of golden WSOP bracelet winners. The top 3 Greek poker players are Alexandros Kolonias ($3.7M in live tournaments, WSOPE 2019 and multiple Poker Masters Online champion), Georgios Sotiropoulos ($3.3M in live tournaments, WSOPE, and multiple EPT champion), and Georgios Zisimopoulos ($2.2M in live tournaments, GCOP, Mediterranean Poker Cup, and multiple EPT champion).
Greek online poker sees more impressive results, with a total amount of winnings amassed by online grinders going over $107M. The most productive players are Alex “Alexyo” Theologis ($7.9M) and Alexandros “mexican222” Kolonias ($6.4M), followed by Kyriakos “9cream4” Papadopoulos ($1.8M).
Summary
Recent changes to online gambling regulations have certainly benefitted the online poker market in Greece. More than 10 operators have already obtained licenses from the Hellenic Gaming Commission, offering legal services to poker fans. Apart from that, most of the top offshore platforms without a license from HGC are also available.
Join the Greek poker community on Bwin, Americas Cardroom, or BetOnline. Licensed in Greece, Bwin offers legal services and a nice selection of tournaments. ACR invites you to play against US grinders, earning points and bigger rakeback in the loyalty program. BetOnline boasts a dense schedule of poker events with a monthly prize pool reaching $10M. Let’s recall that Americans are well known for loving casual high stakes games.
Responsible Gambling
Keep in mind that playing online poker may result in gambling addiction. If you or a person you know has developed an unhealthy behavior, don’t hesitate to seek help on one of the websites below:
- The Hellenic Gaming Commission — This is the official site of the Greek gambling regulator where you can find info regarding responsible gambling.
- Gamblers Anonymous — Go here to discover the contacts of organizations providing help to gamblers with addiction.
- Gamble Aware — Grasp the basics behind gambling addiction and the means to prevent it.
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