Open market "only viable" solution for Greece, says RGA
Trade body questions Greek government failures and delays as Intralot attempts to block horserace betting rights sale
The Remote Gaming Association (RGA) said today the monopolised Greek online gambling market put customers at risk and claimed a liberal market open to multiple licensees to be the “online viable” solution for long term success.
The trade body said that the Greek government had “consistently failed” to implement its own gambling laws and has pledged to use “all legitimate options at its disposal” in order to obtain a “legal, clear, workable and fair resolution”, including legal challenges to the EU and Greek courts.
Yesterday, Greece’s highest court rejected challenges from several egaming firms and deemed OPAP’s betting monopoly to be compliant with European law as it sought to combat illegal betting and criminal activities.
Last month eGaming Review reported that the European Commission had issued an ultimatum to Greek authorities regarding clarifications it had sought over its online gambling laws, and the RGA said the EC “must at least have suspicions” over the lack of regulatory progress, suggesting delays have been designed to sell the government’s stake in OPAP at a higher price.
The RGA also said that current monopoly OPAP’s relative inexperience in online gambling – the launch of its online sportsbook in June this year was its first online product – made it no better placed to protect customers than international operators.
“The current situation for online gambling in Greece is damaging to the reputation of the Greek regulator and Government,” Sue Rossiter, director of projects and policy at the RGA, said.
“It puts customers at risk by encouraging them to use unlicensed operators if they do not want to be restricted to the limited offer at OPAP,” she added.
The RGA estimated that the 24 gambling companies operating in the country under temporary licences issued two years ago would contribute circa 50m in gross gambling revenue tax to the Greek state this year, and criticised efforts to remove them from the market.
Meanwhile, Greek gaming and lottery supplier Intralot has sought to block the award of exclusive horserace betting rights in the country to OPAP following last week’s tender result.
OPAP was reported to have paid 40.5m for the rights, however Reuters has cited an anonymous source in stating Intralot are to challenge the tender after claiming it has violated transparency and fair competition rules, with a hearing expected by mid-October.