Home / Poker News May 2008 / Greece to Open Gaming Market?
Greece to Open Gaming Market?
Posted by: James Carter. - Tue, 2008-05-20 10:14
Without meaning to jump the proverbial gun, it appears likely that the online European poker community may be about to gain another member in the not to distant future. It seems that EC Enforcement Chief Charlie McCreevy is scheduled to meet with George Alogoskoufis, the Greek Economic Minister this coming week. The scheduled meeting has given rise to the rumors that Greece may finally be ready to allow foreign EU based online gambling operators to compete in their hither to monopoly market. The Greek gaming company, OPAP, has held a government supported throttle hold on the Greek gaming market; an issue that has been raised in the European Court of Justice due to its violation of EU free trade agreements within the EC bloc. Greece is just one of several EU nations facing problems on this matter, and as reported earlier in the month, both Holland and France are also being heavily leant upon to reconsider their anti-international-gaming policy statuses. OPAP President Chatziemmanouil has commented recently that possible OPAP changes may occur in the future with regard to its monopoly, whilst Greek government sources have also suggested that bringing Greek gambling legislation in to line with EU standards may be on the horizon. The same sources did also warn, that an unregulated market would not be likely.
