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New Greek Online Casino Resolution

The European Commission has spent the past year monitoring the European online casino gambling market and negotiating with countries that currently operate state-run exclusive gambling monopolies. There are currently roughly ten EU member-states operating some for of gambling or betting monopoly and the EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy has doggedly pursued creating an entirely inclusive EU online casinos market. McCreevy issued a warning to the Greek government about the nation’s gambling monopoly, and that effort resulted in last week’s meeting between Commissioner McCreevy and the Greek Economy Minister, Giorgos Alogoskoufis.

According to Greek media reports, the meeting went well, and although the online casinos market is still operating exclusively through OPAP, the government monopoly, a new National Regulating Commission for Games of Chance will consistently monitor the Greek gambling industry. Costas Zacharopoulos will head up the Greek Commission, which will primarily act as a watchdog in the online casino gambling industry ensuring that the Greek market opens up to foreign internet gambling companies.

This latest decision is a huge step forward for the online gambling industry – foreign internet casinos have already begun to show an interest in entering the Greek gambling market. OPAP seems to be the only gambling company opposed to the liberalization of the Greek online casino gambling industry…and it’s not surprising considering the company will now face competition for the first time. John Whittaker of Stanleybet International noted how last week’s meeting and subsequent decision will have an effect on all of the current EU gambling monopolies. He notes, “Today’s decision is another blow to member states who do not wish to play their part.”