A complaint has been filed with the European Commission by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) and the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) describing how Greek’s new gambling policy fails to comply with EU laws.
After receiving a draft of Greece’s new legislation a few months ago the Commission informed Greece that it was not acceptable to EU standards.
The European Gaming and Betting Association and the Remote Gambling Association are concerned that a number of anti-competitive and unjustified restrictions still remain in the adopted law. They feel that these restrictions place unwarranted economic burdens on any new operators.
Chief Executive of the Remote Gambling Association, Clive Hawkswood, said “We have welcomed the opening of the Greek online gambling market as a positive step. However, it is paramount that any new regime is conducted in a fair and transparent fashion which follows EU rules. Where a regime is contrary to the provision of the Treaties, challenges are unfortunately necessary and unavoidable. We therefore look to the Commission, as guardian of the Treaties, to enforce those provisions in relation to gambling, as the European Parliament has recently requested.”
Sigrid Ligne, Secretary General of the European Gaming and Betting Association added “Commissioner Barnier recently confirmed to the European Parliament that the he would fulfill his responsibilities seriously in assessing the compliance of Member States gambling legislation with EU law. Allowing Greece to proceed with this legislation unchallenged would represent an abject failure of those responsibilities. We trust the Commissioner will urgently investigate our compliant against Greece and take action accordingly against Greece as well as on several other pending complaints.”