Greece Online Poker
While Greece used to house many illegal card rooms, now land-based casinos around Greece allow poker players access to local games under the approval of government regulation. Poker is a popular game in Greece, in both standard variations and house Greek poker variations called Poka. Greek poker players are welcome at international poker sites but the government bans players from using foreign poker sites, instead running state-operated Greece poker sites for any and all online poker play.
Best Poker Sites For Players In Greece
Online poker sites are available to Greek poker players in nationally run poker sites and international poker rooms. The government officially limits Greek online poker to state-run Greece online poker sites, but some Greek poker players still choose to play at larger international sites. Most sites play in Euros, Greece's national currency, so depositing at online poker sites for Greeks is easy. Outside of Greece's national ban on foreign sites, most major international sites welcome Greek poker players without restriction.
Poker Deposit Methods For Greek Players
Greeks have some of the widest range of poker deposit options as most sites operate transactions in Euros. Greece is also one of the few countries allowing players to use PayPal accounts to fund online poker accounts. In addition, Greek poker deposit methods include:
- credit cards and some debit cards from Visa and MasterCard
- e-wallets: PayPal, Moneybookers, Click2Pay, NETeller and Click and Buy
- prepaid cards such as Paysafecard and Ukash
Greek Poker Site Features
At the best Greek online poker sites players will find:
- Greek language settings for player accounts
- Greek language tables or games
- satellite qualifiers for European and other international poker tournaments like the European Poker Tour and WSOP events
- Greek poker pros playing with fellow citizens online
- PayPal as a popular Greece poker deposit option
Popular Greek Poker Games And Variations
Greek poker players use the popular poker variations such as No Limit Texas Hold'em, Omaha variations, Seven Card Stud and mixed games like H.O.R.S.E., H.O.S.E. and Razz. Greece also has its own Greek poker variations, which include a series of games that blend American and European twists on poker into new games. The Greek poker variations are usually played as home games and as a group are called Poka. State-run Greek online poker sites may also offer Poka games, which are usually named for card layouts or play order. The Greek Poka games include:
- Koukos: Single, Double and Double Tableau Cuckoo
- Mpompes: Bombs and Bombs with Hat
- Asanser: Elevator
- Pyramida: Pyramid
- Gonia: Angle, where the community cards are placed at right angles
- Nekrotafeio: Cemetery allows players to discard certain "bad" cards
- Striptease, all cards deal face down and reveal one at a time
- American, which is most like Seven Card Stud
- Chemin de fer
- Triliza: Connect 3 involves winning with combinations among 9 community cards
- Kathreftis: Mirror
- Stavros: Cross
Greece Online Poker Bonuses
International poker rooms offer welcome bonuses to Greek players. The national sites may run special promotions and player bonuses, depending on which company runs the site. Bonuses within Greece are more limited than at outside sites.
Is It Legal To Play Online Poker From Greece?
Greek law bans access to foreign poker sites for Greece poker players. Instead, state-approved companies run Greek national online poker sites to keep the revenue from Greek online poker within the country. Some Greece poker players choose to ignore the ban and play at international sites anyway, since the Greek poker sites only offer limited options for real money poker games.
