Remote Gambling Association Objects to New Greek Gambling Laws

The Remote Gambling Association (RGA) has filed a complaint with the European Commission over the changes that the Greek government introduced to its gambling laws, claiming that the new law favors the current gambling monopoly operator OPAP.

The RGA are claiming that the law violates European Union free trade laws by favoring local operator OPAP over competitors from other European countries. The main argument compares over unfair taxation of foreign operators with the taxation of OPAP under the new law.

Clive Hawkswood, RGA CEO claims that “there are concerns that the new law provides tax benefits for OPAP’s land-based operation with the aim of increasing its value prior to a proposed sale of the government’s share.”

In the eyes of the RGA the tax benefits offered to the OPAP amount of State Aid and as such are in violation of EU laws.

Hawkswood explains further that the RGA “are fully aware of the fiscal pressures on the Greek authorities at present, but they do not justify the imposition of anti-competitive tax provisions which benefit the existing monopoly gambling provider over private online operators soon to be licensed in Greece. Not only does such action not conform with EU State aid rules, but if implemented, it will have a damaging impact on the private sector and associated growth and employment opportunities, as well as curbing competition and consumer choice. As such, we feel compelled to take this action and challenge the Greek authority’s favorable tax treatment of the part state-owned gambling operator OPAP.”

The Greek government has such a problem bringing the current law for approval. Back in February there were discussions of applying taxation to remote operators but the new law got delayed time after time. It was eventually approved, after last minute delays, back in August.

As things currently stand it will appear that even after much discussion the Greek government did not produce a gambling law that is acceptable on offshore operators and now the European Commission will have to weigh in on the debate.