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The Greek government has reaffirmed its decision to increase taxation on online casino winnings, maintaining that the higher rates will generate additional public revenue and help finance measures supporting households and businesses. The increase, which took effect on 1 July 2026, has faced criticism from parts of the gambling industry over its potential impact on the regulated market and the risk of players moving to unlicensed operators. Under the revised framework, online

The borrowing-cost hierarchy across the eurozone has changed significantly, with Belgium paying interest rates close to those of Greece and France facing higher borrowing costs than Italy. The shift reflects diverging fiscal positions, political uncertainty and changing investor perceptions of sovereign risk as European governments prepare to issue record volumes of debt. On 15 October 2026, Belgium’s 10-year government bond yield stood at approximately 4.29%, compared with 4

Greece is stepping up preparations for the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) fifth-round mutual evaluation of its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework, with government agencies and regulators required to report on progress and outstanding weaknesses by 3 November 2026. The preparations are being coordinated through Greece’s Strategic Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing. Authorities are developing a national action pla

Cyprus, Greece and Egypt are stepping up efforts to deepen energy cooperation, with the three countries placing greater emphasis on existing infrastructure, regional connectivity and the development of Eastern Mediterranean natural-gas resources for European markets. The issue was at the centre of meetings in Athens on Wednesday involving Cyprus Energy, Commerce and Industry Minister Michael Damianos, Greek Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou and Egyptian Petr

Banks in Greece and Cyprus are significantly increasing their lending activity, with total credit expansion expected to reach or even surpass €15 billion this year, reinforcing both banking sector profitability and wider economic growth. According to figures published by Greek business outlet Newmoney, credit expansion has now emerged as the key engine of sustainable profitability for banks, while simultaneously supporting broader economic activity. The banking sector appea

Global banking giant HSBC Holdings PLC has issued a new investment report projecting stronger profitability for Greece’s systemic lenders, arguing that the country’s banking sector remains one of the chief beneficiaries of the European Central Bank’s tighter monetary policy environment. HSBC has revised its macroeconomic assumptions to include three additional ECB interest rate increases totaling 75 basis points during the second half of 2026. The banking group expects thes

The National Bank of Greece (NBG) has reported operating profits of €23.6 million in Cyprus for 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 39 per cent as the bank continues to expand its presence and lending activity in the Cypriot market. In its announcement, the bank said it “records, for yet another year, a strong growth trajectory, confirming the consistent implementation of its strategy and its active role in supporting the economy”. According to the institution,

Greece’s regulated gambling market delivered gross gaming revenue of €3.07 billion in 2025, marking a 6.7% increase compared with the previous year, with online gambling continuing to strengthen its position as the market’s fastest-expanding segment. The figures, published in the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) Newsletter #36 on 31 March 2026, underline the extent to which digital channels are reshaping the structure of the Greek market while policymakers prepare for signi

National Bank of Greece has announced the successful completion of the Etalia B transaction, involving the sale of non-performing exposures. The deal concerns a portfolio of non-performing loans with €0.1 billion in outstanding principal, representing a further step in the bank’s ongoing efforts to streamline its balance sheet. The portfolio was transferred to Creditable Opportunities Fund SCA SICAV-RAIF, an acquisition vehicle affiliated with the EOS Group, while management

Athens has announced that all options are being considered in the fight against black market gambling, including prison sentences and consumer fines for repeated participation on illegal websites. Greece is moving forward with plans to become the first EU country to introduce a “comprehensive framework” specifically targeting illegal gambling activities and associated crimes. The initiative comes from Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Minister of National Economy and Finance, who is adva

The Greek government is moving forward with sweeping reforms to its legislation targeting illegal gambling, introducing stricter criminal sanctions aimed not only at operators but also at repeat participants. Authorities say the measures are necessary to combat what they describe as a fast-growing underground market that is reducing public revenue streams while exposing younger individuals to unregulated and potentially harmful gambling environments. Athens has confirmed that

Greece has taken another step in shedding the legacy of its sovereign debt crisis by repaying a portion of its eurozone bailout loans well ahead of schedule, a move aimed at strengthening investor confidence and reducing long-term borrowing costs. This week, Athens completed the early repayment of €5.3bn in loans issued under the first eurozone bailout programme. These obligations were originally set to mature after 2031, with some extending into the 2040s. Paying them down