Why the register is the proof
The Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC, in Greek ΕΕΕΠ) draws up and publishes a list of licensed operators (white list) on its website. The law says publication is sufficient proof that a licence exists (Article 48(6), Law 4002/2011). Whatever a website says about itself does not replace this check.
The two online licence types
The law provides for exactly two online licence types (Article 45, Law 4002/2011), each valid for 7 years:
- Type 1: Online Betting. This is the licence that matters for sports betting.
- Type 2: Other Online Games. It does not cover sports betting; this website deals with betting only.
Step by step
- Open the register. On the HGC website: Εποπτεία και Έλεγχος (Supervision and Control) → Μητρώα (Registers), and from there the register of online gaming licence holders. The link is also in the card at the end of this guide. The register shows 30 entries per page.
- Find the company or the address. Each entry has the company name, country, licence type and website.
- Check the licence type. For sports betting you are looking for “Betting (Type 1)”. You will also see other types in the register, such as “Other Online Games (Type 2)”.
- Compare the website letter for letter. The address you visit must be exactly the one in the register, with no extra words, hyphens or a different ending.
- Check the code, the expiry and “Ισχύει” (valid). The unique licence code looks like HGC-000001-LH. The expiry date shows how long the licence runs, and the “Ισχύει” field should read “Ναι” (yes). “Όχι” (no) means the licence is not in force.
If the address isn’t in the register
Then it does not appear as a Greek licence holder. The HGC also issues the blacklist of unlicensed operators, and internet providers block access to the sites on it (Article 48(7)–(8), Law 4002/2011). An address missing from the register has no Greek licence, even if it hasn’t made the blacklist yet. More in the guide on spotting fake betting sites.
The shortcut
The site check does the same steps for you: it cleans up the address (https, www, capitals, paths), looks for it in the HGC register of licence holders and, if it isn’t there, on the blacklist. The official register remains the source; if anything disagrees, the register wins.
Frequently asked questions
Which licence does an operator need for online betting?
A Type 1 (online betting) licence from the HGC. Type 2 covers other online games. Each licence lasts 7 years (Article 45, Law 4002/2011).
What does “Ισχύει: Όχι” (valid: no) mean in the register?
That the licence is not in force, for example because it has expired. Such an entry does not show that the operator may accept bets today.
Is there a quicker way?
Our site check looks the address up in the HGC register and on the blacklist. The official register remains the source.