Greek authorities investigate 18 influencers for illegal online gambling promotion

Greek authorities have launched an investigation into 18 high-profile social media figures, including rappers, models, and reality television participants, over allegations of promoting illegal online gambling. Minister of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis announced the development, emphasizing that the popularity of these individuals does not grant them legal immunity and asserting that the internet cannot be treated as an unregulated space.

The investigation is currently in the preliminary phase. Authorities are auditing social media posts, videos, and referral links that allegedly directed users to unlicensed gambling platforms. The scope of the influence involved is significant: among the subjects of the investigation, one trap artist reportedly has over 620,000 followers, while ten individuals in total command audiences exceeding 100,000 users. Other accounts under scrutiny have follower counts ranging between 180,000 and 340,000.

Minister Pierrakakis highlighted the broader challenge of combating illegal gambling, noting that approximately 15,000 websites have already been blacklisted. The ministry points out that illegal operations frequently change domains to bypass restrictions, making enforcement difficult. The investigation aims to hold influencers accountable for their role in facilitating access to these illicit platforms.