The Draft Law of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance entitled “Public pension arrangements, measures to address the energy crisis and strengthen the disposable income of citizens” is open for public consultation from today until 15 June 2026, Wage and tax provisions, arrangements for the out-of-court debt settlement mechanism, arrangements for the Gaming Supervisory and Control Commission and improvement of the gaming framework, arrangements for the Public Real Estate Company S.A.E. and other provisions”.

The provisions of the Draft Law constitute a comprehensive legislative intervention to prevent, detect and combat illegal gambling.

In the context of this:

* The role and responsibilities of the Gambling Supervision and Control Commission (GSC) are strengthened.S.E.P.) to be able to take immediate action to remove illegal online content by identifying the accounts and websites involved.

* The Gaming Control Board is upgraded, with members of the Board being assigned the responsibility of a special investigating officer to investigate criminal offences related to the gambling market.

* Provision is made for the immediate and up to one year closure of shops, as well as the withdrawal of operating licences by municipalities, for shops in which illegal gambling is carried out.

* Severe administrative and criminal penalties are introduced for offenders, as well as prison sentences for those who obstruct control.

More specifically, the provisions provide:

Strengthening the Gambling Supervision and Control Commission (GSC).E.E.P.)

* Establishment of new organic posts and staff regulations. In particular, the total number of Commission posts is increased to 110 from the current 80. Of these, 70 posts are for administrative staff and the remaining 40 are for specialised scientific staff specialising in gambling.

* Possibility of transferring staff to E.E.E.P., upon application and evaluation by a five-member committee.

* Arrangements for the operation of the Commission, its rules of procedure and its regulatory powers.

* Η E.E.E.P. shall formulate the national responsible gambling strategy and may contract for supplies and services — such as studies, surveys and actions — as part of its oversight role in combating illegal gambling and tackling addiction.

Measures to control illegal online activity

* Establish a list of unlicensed gambling providers (“blacklist”), block access and control domain names.

* Provision for confiscated player funds, addressing the issue of the freezing or seizure of player accounts by A.A.A.D.E.

Administrative sanctions and controls

* Impose administrative sanctions on internet service providers and advertisers related to the illegal organisation and conduct of games.

* Imposition of a flat-rate fine of 1.000 to EUR 2,000,000 per infringement or per gaming machine, depending on the gravity and frequency of the infringement.

* Temporary license revocation for up to three months or permanent revocation, depending on the severity and frequency of the violation.

* Those who advertise illegal gambling through online channels – such as influencers, streamers, digital ad networks, affiliates and advertisers – will be fined from 5.000 to €50,000 per violation.

Penal sanctions

* Illegal non-gambling is punishable by a minimum of three years in prison and a fine of 10.000 to 500,000 euros. Until now, the fine in such cases ranged from 100,000 to 200,000 euros per gaming machine or from 200,000 to 500,000 euros via the internet.

* Illegal gambling carries a minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment and a fine of 50.000 to 700,000 euros. Currently, the current regime provides for a fine of 700,000 euros and a ten-year prison sentence.

* If the organization of illegal gambling is carried out on a professional, commercial scale, involving underage gamblers or in an establishment that reopens after a seal has been broken, the penalty is a minimum of ten years’ imprisonment and a fine of 100.000 to EUR 800,000. Currently, no corresponding escalation is foreseen.

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* The prison sentence for those who organise gambling without the required licences and/or certifications is set at a minimum of one year and is accompanied by a fine. If the games organised are games of chance, a minimum of two years’ imprisonment and a fine is prescribed.

* Anyone who participates in a game of chance organised without a licence shall be liable to a maximum of two years’ imprisonment and a fine, which in the event of a repeat offence shall be increased by 5.000 to 20,000 euros.

* Investigative powers are vested in the Gaming Control Board.

* Tax on winnings of online casino-style gambling players is increased.

The bill also includes:

– Pension arrangements for public sector pensioners of deceased service and related categories:

A set of provisions of the Draft Law resolves issues of pension adjustments following the application of the new salary laws for military personnel and those who are by law assimilated to those who fall under the jurisdiction of the GSC, such as those who have died in service or persons receiving the relevant pension due to death, as well as war pensioners and other categories.

– Supplementary budget 800 million. and support measures against the energy crisis, as well as additional support measures totalling €800 million.

The Interference Trends:

* to boost disposable income,

* supporting families with children and vulnerable social groups,

* addressing the housing problem, with measures that affect the supply side,

* and the management of private debt.

Specific provision:

Regulations on the out-of-court settlement mechanism and private debt

* The Out-of-Court Debt Settlement Mechanism is expanded as it is reduced to 5.000 euros , from 10,000 euros today, the minimum debt threshold.

* For the first time, the possibility of repayment and rescue of the main residence through the liquidation of other properties is provided for the first time in the framework of the out-of-court mechanism.

* The possibility of up to 72 instalments is introduced for debts that were not settled by the end of 2023.

* A bank account can be unseized if the debtor pays 25% of the debt and settles the other outstanding debts to the tax administration.

– Measures to address the energy crisis and support farmers:

* The new procedure for exemption from the VAT on agricultural oil with a direct discount at the pump via a special digital platform of the AADE is established.

* It is planned to extend the application of the special GAIA tariff to new farmers in order to benefit from the lower cost of electricity.

– Support for families, pensioners and vulnerable groups:

* An exceptional financial aid to families with children of EUR 150 per dependent child is established, with extended income criteria.

* The aid paid each November to pensioners and vulnerable groups is increased to €300, up from €250 today, while the income criteria are broadened, thus increasing the number of beneficiaries.

* The same aid of EUR 300 will be paid from the age of 60, instead of 65, to those who receive exclusively a widow’s pension.

– Housing subsidies

* Rental Return: The income limits for a rent refund are expanded, so that 85% of tenants are now covered.

* Provision is made for the reimbursement of two rents to teachers, doctors and nurses serving in the Greek periphery, without restriction based on income criteria.

* Short-term rentals (Airbnb).

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* A new BuildtoRent program is established, which provides tax incentives for private investment in the housing sector.

– Missing information:

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* The issue of the determination of the salary scale for permanent civil servants, formerly employed under private law for an indefinite period of time, who, at the time of their permanent employment, had retained the insurance status of the former I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I.K.S.A. and have applied for a pension.

* Resolves the issue of extending the personal differential for new employees in agencies where the personal differential had been extended to March 2023.

* The salary scheme of the staff of the Presidency of the Government is consolidated and rationalized in accordance with the uniform salary scale and employees of the General Secretariat for Coordination and the General Secretariat for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs of the Presidency of the Government are given the opportunity to receive the salary increments of Law 4622/2019, after fulfilling the requirements and relevant training.

* For the staff of the Presidency of the Republic, the application of article 12 of the P.D. 351/1991.

* After almost a decade, the salary scheme of the Archpriests of the Church of Greece is redefined, with the unification of salaries and the abolition of additional benefits.

* In accordance with settled case-law, the issue of the salary maturity of judicial officials who have completed the statutory period required by law for promotion to the next grade in the relevant branch but who are not promoted because of a lack of vacancies is resolved.

* The starting salary scale for Judicial Officers in Grade P is redefined.E. Documentation and Support of Judicial Work.

* Regulations of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport are introduced concerning the compensation of air traffic controllers in the event of childbirth or maternity, the determination of special compensation, compensation for loss of speciality and death.

– well-intentioned:

* The framework for discounts on registration fees and exemptions for calculating income for hybrid vehicles up to 50 Co2 is being increased to promote electrification.

* The proposed provisions update the legislative framework governing the seashore and beaches, with the main objective of protecting their public character, the rational use of public property and the creation of conditions for the balanced and sustainable development of business activity.

In this context, targeted improvements of a technical nature are introduced to ensure more effective implementation of the framework, which concern the composition of the committees for determining the boundaries of the seashore, beach and shore and the remote detection of infringements using modern technological means. Furthermore, regulations are introduced to decongest the Land Services, to provide faster service to businesses operating in the coastal zones and to ensure a smoother adaptation of the latter to the new institutional framework.

Finally, regulations with a strong social dimension are introduced to support the development of business activity of companies affected by the bad weather “Daniel”, in order to protect the economic viability of these companies.

* This resolves practical issues that had arisen in the implementation of the procedure for granting and refunding advances to electricity suppliers and the procedure for the payment of bills by General Government bodies, while a regulation is introduced on the way in which the Ministry of National Economy and Finance will henceforth pay the outstanding electricity bills of an entity not belonging to the Central Administration, following the confirmation of the debts to the tax authority, with the aim of reducing the amount of overdue debts.