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Greek Authorities Raid Athens Stanleybet
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09-Nov-2008, 03:02
Greece's state-run sports book, The Hellenistic Organization of Football Prognostics (or OPAP), flexed its muscle yesterday by instigating a police raid on the Athens branch of Liverpool sports-betting firm Stanleybet. The move comes just one week after Stanleybet opened two offices in Greece claiming that it has a clear mandate from Brussels to challenge OPAP's monopoly.
OPAP contends that because Stanleybet has no license to operate within the member state's borders its presence in Greece is illegal.
According to Greek law, OPAP is the only company allowed to hold such a license.
Greek authorities reportedly arrested two men in the raid. One of the men has been identified as the location's manager, while the other was reportedly a 20-year-old student who had entered the shop to place a bet. Police released both men after questioning but have not returned the approximately €5,000 in cash and equipment they confiscated.
Stanleybet has charged that it has full legal right according to EU law and rulings by the European Court of Justice to operate throughout the EU.
"According to articles 43-49 of the European Charter, Stanleybet International has the right to offer its services... even if a member state sets monopolistic barriers," a Stanleybet press release said.
OPAP CEO Christos Hadjemmanuil fired back that his company will move to launch its own Internet gambling services in the UK if Stanleybet does not desist.