Key Takeaways
- Greece is home to several land-based casinos located in popular tourist destinations such as Athens, Thessaloniki, and Rhodes.
- The best casinos in Greece typically feature a wide range of gaming options, including various slot machines and electronic games, as well as classic table games like blackjack, roulette, poker, and baccarat.
- Casinos in Greece often offer additional entertainment options, including live music performances, stage shows, and cultural events.
- They may also provide additional amenities such as VIP lounges, spa services, swimming pools, and other recreational facilities to cater to the needs of their guests.
Casinos have always been a way to have fun, gambling and playing games such as roulette, blackjack, poker, slots, and more.
Greece is no different, offering a number of stunning casinos one can choose from when in the mood to gamble.
This blog post is dedicated to showcasing the best casinos that can be found in various areas of Greece.
Historical Background for the Casinos of Greece
The Casinos of Greece are quite impressive and imposing. The first casino was in Rhodes and was created in 1929 by Italian conquerors. Then followed the casino of Loutraki in the year 1930. The casino in Loutraki impressed everyone with its facilities and its imposingness.
But World War II was the reason it stopped working. In 1962, the casino of Corfu operated. It was located in the impressive palace of Achillion.
In 1971, the well-known casino of Parnitha started operating, which excited the players because it was a casino very close to Athens, and that is why it was an attraction for many visitors from the wider area of Attica and beyond.
When the government allowed the establishment of private casinos in Greece, things changed for the better, and the number of casinos increased! Now, we have 9 legal casinos in Greece, which offer players the opportunity to gamble for fun.
The games that visitors will encounter in the casinos of Greece
Below we will give you brief information about the gambling that you can play in the casinos of Greece.
Blackjack: blackjack is one of the most popular card games. The player must achieve the cards they have collected to be as close as possible to the number 21.
Roulette: Roulette is a board game in which the player must correctly guess the number or color or whether the number is odd or even. At the top of the table, there is a wheel consisting of 37 positions if the roulette is French / European or 38 positions if it is American. The positions are divided into black and red, while the number 0 is green. The croupier turns the wheel in one direction and throws the small ball in the other.
Poker: poker is a card game. A minimum of two players can play in this game. There are several variations of poker, the most popular being Texas Hold 'em, where each player has two hidden cards in his hand, and the dealer opens three cards.
Then the players bet the amount of money they want, and the dealer opens the fourth card, and again the remaining players, as some may have resigned, bet again with the dealer opening the fifth card, which the players bet again and wins, either the best combination down on the two cards the players have in their hand or the player who manages to knock the opposing players out of the game by bluffing.
Punto Banco/baccarat: Punto Banco is a card game, and its purpose is for the player to have the collected cards close to number 9. Those who bet must choose the winner, either the banker or the player.
Dice / Craps: This game is played with two dice. You can be the one to roll the dice or be the one to bet. If the Shooter rolls the numbers 7 or 11 on the first roll and you have placed a Pass Line bet, ie 7 or 11, then you have won. If he succeeds in the numbers 2, 3, or 12 then you will lose. Each other number continues the game and is set as a Point. The next rolls must pass the Point number.
Slots: They are games of chance that consist of 3 or more reels, also known as slots. ‘When the player presses the spin button, then random symbols appear on the screen which, if they participate in winning combinations, the player will win.
Mont Parnes Regency Casino of Athens
The nearest casino in Athens, which has been operating as a casino since 1971, is ideally located at the top of Mount Parnitha. There, you will have the opportunity to play poker, blackjack, and roulette at 53 tables, while there are over 500 slot machines.
Beautiful aristocratic aesthetics with paintings and careful lighting - there is blue lighting in the slots - while in the restaurant, you can enjoy quality food with great views.
Access can be easily by car, bus to the casino, or cable car. The casino is open 24/7, and admission is 6 euros, with dress code formal attire. So what is best to combine gambling with a leisurely walk in nature, drinking your coffee, or enjoying your meal?
Regency Casino of Thessaloniki
The Casino of Thessaloniki is one of the most impressive in Northern Greece. It is 12 km from the center of Thessaloniki and is located near the city airport. It first operated in 1996. Players can visit it 24 hours a day, as long as they are over 21 years old.
The games in the casino of Thessaloniki include 22 Blackjack tables, 9 Poker tables, 30 American roulette tables, Punto Banco tables, and more than 800 slots. The entrance cost is 6 euros.
Casino Porto Carras in Halkidiki
Halkidiki Casino is the first private casino in Greece, located in the hotel complex Porto Carras Grand Resort in the area of Sithonia. Entry to the casino of Halkidiki as in any legal casino is allowed to people over 21 years old. The casino is open daily from 20:00 until 04:00.
The games that you will find in the casino of Halkidiki are: 77 slots, 8 Touch bet Roulettes, 6 American roulettes, 3 Caribbean Stud Poker tables, 7 Blackjack tables, 2 Mini Punto Banco, and 14 Texas Holdem Poker tables. The entrance is 5 euros.
Casino Loutraki
The legendary casino in Loutraki, just outside Athens, is the largest casino in Greece and has been operating since 1995 at the Club Hotel Loutraki. Inside the luxurious casino, you will find 80 tables for blackjack, poker, and roulette, while slot machines exceed 1000.
It is located by the sea and provides excellent services in spas and restaurants. The opening hours are continuous all year round, and the entrance costs 10 euros on weekdays and 15 euros on weekends.
Casino of Syros
The casino of Syros will leave you breathless with its striking beauty. Simple luxury in neoclassical buildings decorated with white marble, stone, and crystal chandeliers.
It has variety in all games, while it also has the restaurant "Muses" with fine Mediterranean dishes and amazing views. The service of the staff is very good, and the entrance is at 6 euros. Board games start from 20:00 until 3:30.
Casino of Rio
Rio Casino is located 8 km from the center of Patras, and there is a luxury hotel in the casino area. You can visit it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Entry is prohibited for persons under 21 years of age.
In Rio Casino, you will have the opportunity to try your luck in blackjack, poker, dice, roulette, and over 300 slots. General admission is 6 euros.
Casino of Corfu
Corfu Casino is one of the first casinos in Greece and is located 10 km outside the city inside the Corfu Holiday Palace Hotel. Beautiful aesthetics with interesting architecture and decoration, it is worth visiting if you are in Corfu.
Of course, it does not have as much variety in tables and slots as the previous ones, but it organizes big jackpot tournaments. Admission is 6 euros, and the hours for board games are from 20:00 to 4:00.
Casino of Rhodes
Rhodes Casino opened for the first time in 1929 at the Grande Albergo Delle Rose Hotel. It is considered one of the most beautiful casinos in Greece since the architecture of the building impresses every visitor.
The games that you will find in the casino of Rhodes are: Roulette, Blackjack, Poker, Punto Banco, and about 300 slots. The entrance to the casino of Rhodes is 6 euros unless you stay in its luxury hotel. In that case, the entrance is free of charge.
Live online casino
Live casino is the new fashion for online gambling. For many years from the first time casinos were introduced on the internet, their goal was to simulate as much as possible the atmosphere of a real casino so that the player experience is as close as possible to the feeling he has when playing in a traditional casino.
With slot machines and screen games, this was relatively easy to happen. The design, the sounds, and the jackpots are identical to regular casinos and several times better. But where did the computer casino programs suffer? But of course, in board games.
The live dealer is different, and the faceless computer is different. Live teammates are one thing, and the loneliness of online casino software is another. The answer to this question of online casinos and players came to give applications for live casinos.
The first idea was given by television, where such applications had already started. A TV studio, roulette or a blackjack table, a beautiful dealer, and the live casino ready! In fact, on TV, bets were made over the phone.
On the Internet, via computer, mobile, and landline. But another idea seems to be gaining the favor of players more and more nowadays. The collaboration of traditional and internet casinos.
So the live internet streaming of the action at regular casino tables from all over the world and the possibility of participating in them remotely is the live casino and the real action that all gamblers want.
As a result, these applications are gaining more and more ground compared to the simple applications of a virtual casino.
How old do you have to be to go to a casino in Greece?
Age is one of the key factors in whether or not you can enter a Casino, whether it is a Real Casino or an Online Casino. In Greek Casinos, the age limit is 21 years.
If you have not completed them, which you will have to prove by showing your police ID or passport, the doors of the actual Casinos will be closed to you, as you will not be allowed to go through them or have a drink.
These apply to those who want to play in a traditional land-based casino in Greece. On the other hand, there are those who prefer to play from the comfort of their home in an online live casino. The age limit for registering in a live online casino is again 21 years.
You will need to prove this by completing the relevant verification process of your account that you will have opened at the Online casino live that you have chosen.
How can you tell if an online casino is legal?
It is true that even today, most people do not know that gambling in an online casino in our country is completely safe. But what are these legal online casinos and how can you tell if an online casino is legal?
If an online casino is legal, it will be on the list of casinohouse.gr. However, because it is useful to be able to figure out for yourself whether a casino is legal or not, here are some basic clues as to whether the EEEP has licensed a betting company or casino.
The easiest way is to look at the bottom (footer) of the homepage of the live online casino you are interested in and make sure that the following are available:
- Reference to EEEP and Type 1 and Type 2 license numbers (betting and casino services, respectively)
- Reference to KETHEA and the support line for gambling addiction
- The age limit below which gambling is prohibited (21+)
Gambling Responsibly in Greece
While the vast majority of gamblers play for fun and are able to stay in control of their game, there will be a small minority who cannot. To give yourself the best chance of staying in control of your game, remember these questions:
Online and in-person gambling should be considered as entertainment and not as a way to make money. You need to keep a close eye on the money you are betting on and be prepared to bet only when you can lose. Also, you should never chase your losses. In addition to keeping track of how much money you spend playing, please note the time you spend playing.
One way a player can feel more in control of their game is to set limits on how much they can deposit. Players can set limits on a daily, weekly, and even monthly basis, and any request to reduce your limit will be processed immediately.
A request to increase this limit will require activation of at least 24 hours. Casino customer support staff can provide more information on setting deposit limits.
In addition to setting deposit limits with which you feel comfortable, we can help you impose a period of self-exclusion.
The most common periods of self-exclusion include a short cooling period of at least 24 hours or a more severe period of self-exclusion of at least 6 months.
Gambling Taxation – Do You Owe Taxes after a Win?
Unfortunately, your winnings cannot be excluded from taxes. I know it kinda sounds counterproductive and unfair, but it is what it is.
The taxation for your winnings in Greece is divided into 3 categories.
1st Category: 0 to 100 €. In this category, the players who win an amount up to € 100 then are not taxed at all, and the tax-free applies.
2nd category: 100.01 to 500 €. This includes those players who have net winnings from € 100.01 up to € 500. In this case, the state taxes 15%, with this percentage valid from 100 € and above.
3rd Category: € 500.01 and over. In this category, the tax rate is 20% for profits over € 500.
Final Thoughts
Although they can not be compared with major casinos in Europe and America, in Greece, some casinos are located in beautiful locations with various special features that are worth visiting, even if you are not involved in gambling.
Some are, in fact, the largest in Europe, while in many, there are beautiful hotels, restaurants, and opportunities for other activities that will relax and entertain every visitor. In this article, we tried to give you all the information about the best casinos in our country you will ever need.
Now, you can test your luck by being well-educated and prepared. We hope your visit to Greece will provide you with the best of luck!
