European Commission Could Investigate Stanleybet's Greek Clash

5/26/2009 by Gaming Industry Media Staff

The European Parliament Committee on Petitions has accepted a petition from Stanleybet International Ltd. regarding its Greek clash and has asked the European Commission to investigate, according to the fixed-odds betting firm.

The European Parliament Committee on Petitions has accepted a petition from Stanleybet International Ltd. regarding its Greek clash and has asked the European Commission to investigate, according to the fixed-odds betting firm.

Submitted in late January, the petition by customers and intermediaries concerning the November arrests in Greece lists a number of complaints including that Greek legal proceedings against Stanleybet's Greek outlets "deprive its intermediaries from their current and future livelihoods as well as their personal freedom."

In October, Greek authorities raided two Stanleybet shops set up to challenge OPAP S.A., the country's betting monopoly.

"The Greek authorities' behavior is clearly outrageous, and I am pleased that the European Parliament has decided to investigate," said John Whittaker, Stanlelybet's chief executive, in a statement.

"This behavior is all the more unacceptable and unfair given that OPAP, a private Greek company listed in the Athens Stock Exchange which abusively holds an exclusive right to offer sports betting services in Greece, has increased its own activity across state borders."

Click here to listen to a March interview with Adrian Morris, Stanleybet's managing director, discussing the Stanleybet-OPAP clash.