OPAP monopoly deemed legal by Greek court
Greek Council of State rules monopoly is aimed at targeting criminal activities and thus compliant with EU law
Greece’s Council of State yesterday delivered a blow to foreign operators hoping to enter the Greek online gambling market after judging OPAP’s betting monopoly to be compliant with European law.
The Council of State, Greece’s highest court, rejected challenges by several egaming operators who questioned the legality of the gambling monopoly awarded to OPAP, claiming the decision violated European Union laws relating to the freedom of services.
Instead the court ruled that OPAP’s monopoly and gambling reforms were designed to combat illegal betting and criminal activities and therefore should continue to hold exclusive rights to operate gambling services.
The ruling comes less than a month after the European Commission issued an ultimatum to Greek authorities, requesting it makes amendments to its gambling laws by the end of October.
The EC addressed Greece’s general secretary for fiscal policy Tassos Anastasatos in August requesting certain clarifications regarding OPAP’s monopoly while also proposing several amendments to its process.
Failure to comply with the requests “as a matter of highest priority” was threatened with the advancement of previously suspended infringement proceedings.
Sources familiar with the matter have suggested to eGaming Review that while OPAP did not “exactly” meet the EC’s deadline, a response was submitted which has included criticism of the EC’s directorate-general for competition for delaying the matter further.