European Commission issues Greek ultimatum
Regulatory body threatens to advance previously suspended infringement proceedings if amendments to Greek gambling law are not made
The European Commission has issued an ultimatum to the Greek Ministry of Finance and threatened to advance previously suspended infringement proceedings against the country if it does not make amendments to its gaming law by the end of October, eGaming Review can reveal.
In a letter from the EC addressed to the Greek general secretary for fiscal policy Tassos Anastasatos in August and seen by eGR, the Commission requested several documents and clarifications pertaining to Greece’s gambling laws.
Principally the Commission sought to receive clarification that the Hellenic Gaming Commission had yet to become accountable for a licensing process in the country while also seeking an update on whether or not proposed amendments to the country’s gambling laws regarding Greek monopoly OPAP’s exclusive right to operate online games of chance.
The Commission also requested clarification as to whether the 24 holders of interim licences had been allowed to continue to operate in the country, with previous reports suggesting the country’s police department had sought to enforce IP bans on a list of online operators.
The letter issued the Ministry of Finance with a deadline for information by 8 September and the adoption of proposed amendments by the end of October, and stated that the body must submit the information “as a matter of highest priority”.
The country’s failure to do so would see infringement proceedings, launched by the EC in 2007 but suspended a year later, advanced and risk ending up being heard by the European Court of Justice.
While the European Commission declined to comment on individual infringement proceedings when contacted by eGR, it did confirm that it remained “in contact” with the Greek authorities.
Sources familiar with the matter suggested that it is be unlikely that the Greek authorities met the 8 September deadline.
Greece’s gambling regulation has come under repeated challenges since it awarded OPAP with the exclusive right to operate with many parties contesting the legality of the award.
The Malta Remote Gaming Council complained to the European Commission regarding the alleged IP blocking of operators in September last year and the Remote Gaming Association has issued repeated warnings to the Greek government, arguing that the monopoly afforded to OPAP breached EU law.