StanleyBet recently opened two betting outlets in Greece and one shop has already been raided by the police. The Athens outlet was raided after a complaint was filed by OPAP, the Greek betting monopoly. The Outlet was accused of having illegal betting activities.

Machinery and more than $7,000 in cash was taken by authorities and two people were arrested. One of those arrested was later released. A statement from police said the outlet had been conducting “illegal betting without a permit from the appropriate authorities aiming to make monetary gain at the expense of the Greek state.”

In 2000, OPAP signed a concession agreement with the Government of Greece to gain exclusive rights over all operations in Greek betting for twenty years. Current legislation and the terms of the deal give OPAP exclusive rights over the operation and management of any new games in Greece on sporting events.

StanleyBet believes they had a legal right to operate betting services under European Union law and prior European Court of Justice Rulings. StanleyBet has over 1,000 betting shops in Belgium, Romania, Poland and Croatia and made $508 million last year. StanleyBet has tried and failed to receive a permit from Greece to operate in the closed market.



- 2008-11-11