MORE HASSLES WITH GREEK GAMBLING REFORM
Written On 4/7/11 By Frank Polliern :
MORE HASSLES WITH GREEK GAMBLING REFORM
Government agrees to a further revision of its reforms in the face of strong political opposition
Efforts by the Greek government to liberalise land and online gambling and move away from a monopolised structure dominated by OPAP have reportedly encountered another delay.
The Reuters news agency reports that government has had to agree to a revision of its latest proposals after ruling party politicians complained Thursday it could turn the cash-strapped country into a vast casino.
Just last month the government tabled the draft proposals, which it said could raise up to Euro 700 million from new gaming licenses and royalties.
But ruling Socialist party MPs said the law might lead to gaming excesses.
"We should not go towards full deregulation of gaming and gambling," PASOK MP Dimitris Papoutsis told Reuters after Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou presented the draft legalization to members of his party.
Papaconstantinou told lawmakers he would retract the law for further consultation.
When InfoPowa went to press there had been no government comment on the report.
