In a case brought by Stanleybet, William Hill and Sportingbet against Greece’s partly state-owned gambling monopoly, the EU Court of Justice has ruled that OPAP has violated EU law.
The ruling, which relates to laws forbidding the granting of monopoly gambling rights unless they also restrict the opportunities to bet, could ease the expansion of internet betting across national borders. Greece has argued that the monopoly is necessary to fight illegal gambling.
In a statement William Hill said: “We are delighted that a free market approach has been adopted towards licensed and responsible companies who are being unfairly kept outside of the current Greek market.”
Clive Hawkswood, chief executive of the Remote Gambling Association, said: “Practically what it does is put pressure on the Greek government to open up the licensing regime and end their monopoly.
“It’s significant beyond Greece because what the court is saying to other countries with gambling monopolies is that there is a red line you can’t cross – you can have a monopoly, but its got to confirm with EU rules.”
