Greece ups online gambling tax to 35%; OPAP names Damian Cope as new CEO

Greece is forging ahead with plans to impose a 35% flat tax on all online gambling revenue, a move that could help the country’s floundering finances while discouraging new operators from entering the market.

On Sunday, the Greek parliament approved its latest omnibus financial bill, approval of which was necessary in order for the cash-strapped country to release the latest tranche of bailout funds from international lenders.

The gambling portion of the omnibus bill scrapped the existing 30% to 35% variable online gambling tax in favor of a flat 35% rate across all gambling products. The governing Syriza party expects the change, which will be applied retroactively to Jan. 21, 2016, will provide the state’s depleted tax coffers with an annual €54m in tax revenue.

The new regime applies to all 24 online operators to whom Greece issued ‘temporary’ licenses in 2011. The Greek government also intends to proceed with plans to issue permanent online gambling licenses to replace those 24 temporary permits, which will reportedly include upfront fees of €3m for the initial five-year term of each license.