Greek authorities order ISP blocking of 23 gambling domains

Greek authorities have ordered internet service providers in the country to block access to a number of gambling domains in a bid to protect OPAP’s contentious online monopoly.

Last Friday the Greek police’s electronic crime division issued a notice confirming that it had requested the ISP blocking of 23 online gambling domains that it suspected of operating in the country without a licence.

While the names of the 23 domains are currently unclear, eGaming Review understands that they belong to operators who were not granted an interim licence from the Greek Gambling Commission and featured on the regulator’s blacklist in February this year.

Only the locations of the servers have been disclosed, confirming them to be based in countries including Great Britain, Malta, Panama, Israel and Russia.

Last September the Malta Remote Gaming Council filed a complaint with the European Commission against the Hellenic Republic of Greece regarding the blacklist, disputing the award of a single online licence to Greek operator OPAP.

Opposition to Greece’s award of an online monopoly to OPAP has increased in recent weeks following the launch of its first online product, a GTECH-powered sportsbook, with critics insisting the launch contravenes EU law.