Pragmatic Play secures the A1 supplier licence in Greece, a decisive step in a reshaped market
Pragmatic Play adds Greece to its regulatory tally. The provider has just secured the A1 supplier licence issued by the Hellenic Gaming Commission. This is the authorisation that now governs every distribution of online gambling in the country.
In this article, you will discover:
- the framework born from Law 4635/2019, which closes nearly ten years of transitional rule
- what this A1 licence actually covers, along with the strict rules imposed on online slots, capped stakes and winnings included
- the immediate weight it gains from the partnerships already active with Kaizen Gaming and Novibet
- the iconic titles and new releases promised to Greek players, from Sweet Bonanza to Chilli Heat Megaways™
- the statement from Sheriff Khamoura, director of compliance
- our reading of this announcement, its promises as much as its blind spots
The A1 supplier licence is the key that unlocks Greece's regulated market
A little context, because everything hinges on it.
A market reshaped by Law 4635/2019
For almost a decade, online gambling in Greece lived under a transitional regime inherited from Law 4002/2011. That meant twenty-four provisional operators, a shaky framework and rules never truly set in stone. Law 4635/2019 brought that chapter to a close. Since autumn 2020, the Hellenic Gaming Commission has been reviewing applications to issue two distinct operating licences. There is type 1 for online sports betting, priced at 3 million euros, and type 2 for other forms of online gambling, casino included, at 2 million euros. Each one runs for seven years. The first permanent licences arrived during 2021. The market is strictly reserved for players over 21 and taxed at 35% of gross gaming revenue, and it now operates in full daylight.
What exactly does the A1 supplier licence cover in Greece?
For studios, the entry ticket has a name, the A1 supplier licence. This compliance certificate is aimed at manufacturers and content providers. Without it, no one can legally supply licensed operators, and every game must also pass an individual certification with the regulator. For Pragmatic Play, the stakes were clear. The goal was to secure the continuity of its slots and live casino offer under the new regime. Yet the rules demand real discipline. Stake capped at 2 euros per spin, winnings limited to 5,000 euros, progressive jackpots banned: Athens has carved out one of the tightest frameworks in Europe for online slots. Some will read this as welcome player protection. Others will see a wariness that risks pushing part of the public toward the illegal offer, and it would be naive to ignore that.
A position consolidated alongside Kaizen Gaming and Novibet
The announcement takes on its full meaning in light of the deals already signed on the ground. Pragmatic Play works with Kaizen Gaming, the parent company of Stoiximan and an absolute heavyweight of betting in Greece, along with the Greek operations of Novibet. That operator is firmly rooted with the local public. The A1 licence turns these distribution channels into lasting assets. This race for certifications does have a downside across the sector. Every stamp claimed by a giant raises the barrier to entry for smaller studios, who have neither the legal teams nor the cash flow to file dossier after dossier. Players gain audited games within a protective framework. Creative diversity, though, could lose a few feathers along the way.
Which titles is Pragmatic Play placing in the hands of Greek players?
The catalogue that comes with this licence speaks for itself.
The safe bets first:
- Sweet Bonanza: an avalanche of candy and its cascading multipliers, now one of the most played slots in Europe.
- Wolf Gold: the American plains at dusk, howling wolves and coin respins, a classic that has lost none of its pull.
- Fruit Party 2: the tangy sequel released this summer, faithful to the cluster mechanic that made the first instalment a hit.
And for the curious, two fresh arrivals:
- YumYum Powerways: a visual treat driven by the Powerways engine and its multiplied combinations.
- Chilli Heat Megaways™: the festive Mexico of Chilli Heat, chillies, guitars and fiesta spirit, reworked in the Megaways format with its shifting reels.
The licence also covers live casino, clearly the studio's other pillar, with its roulette and blackjack tables and video game show titles. As a result, there is enough here to satisfy the western nostalgic and the thrill seeker alike.
Compliance first, the strategic line of a sector in full transformation
Securing this licence illustrates the mission Pragmatic Play has set itself. Its main aim is to deploy its top performing products in regulated jurisdictions, and only there. The approach fits the mood of the moment. A few weeks earlier, in August 2021, the provider had also earned the ISO 27001 certification, the international benchmark for information security. There lies further proof that compliance is no window dressing but a project pursued on every front. Germany tightened the screws on 1 July with its new interstate treaty. The Netherlands opens its regulated market on 1 October. Greece has just settled its long transition. In 2021, iGaming growth is won compliance dossier after compliance dossier, far more than on the grey terrains of old.
The statement from Sheriff Khamoura, director of compliance
Sheriff Khamoura, director of compliance at Pragmatic Play, welcomed the announcement in these terms:
"We are delighted to reach a crucial milestone in the Greek market by obtaining this A1 licence. It is a great opportunity for us to continue supplying our expanding product offering to Greek operators."
Two words stand out: "continue" and "expanding". The first confirms that nothing stops for existing partners. The second signals what comes next, because a catalogue growing every month needs regulated markets to flow into. Greece, with its severe caps and heavy taxation, will never be the eldorado of margins. Even so, it offers stable and readable ground, where an online gambling provider of this calibre can build over time. In an industry where a single law can shut down a country overnight, that stability is worth plenty of jackpots.
FAQ: Pragmatic Play's A1 supplier licence in Greece
What is the A1 supplier licence in Greece?
The A1 supplier licence is the compliance certificate issued by the Hellenic Gaming Commission to manufacturers and content providers of online gambling. It allows a studio like Pragmatic Play to legally distribute its games to licensed operators in Greece. Without it, no content can be offered on the regulated Greek market.
When did Pragmatic Play obtain its A1 licence in Greece?
Pragmatic Play announced that it had obtained its type A1 supplier licence on 15 September 2021. This authorisation lets it keep distributing its slots and live casino games under the new Greek regulation born from Law 4635/2019.
Which games does Pragmatic Play offer to Greek players?
Pragmatic Play makes available its iconic titles such as Sweet Bonanza, Wolf Gold and Fruit Party 2, along with new releases such as YumYum Powerways and Chilli Heat Megaways™. The licence also covers its live casino offer, with its roulette and blackjack tables and its game show titles.
Why is the A1 licence important for Pragmatic Play?
The A1 licence secures Pragmatic Play's access to the regulated Greek market and consolidates its partnerships already active with Kaizen Gaming and Novibet. It guarantees the continuity of its offer under a strict legal framework and fits its strategy of exclusive deployment in regulated jurisdictions.
Who issues online gambling licences in Greece?
Online gambling licences in Greece are issued by the Hellenic Gaming Commission, the national regulator of the sector. It has been reviewing applications from operators and suppliers since the market overhaul brought by Law 4635/2019.
What rules apply to online slots in Greece?
Greek regulation caps the stake at 2 euros per spin and winnings at 5,000 euros, and bans progressive jackpots. The market is reserved for players over 21 and taxed at 35 percent of gross gaming revenue. This framework ranks among the strictest in Europe.
