Greek state acts against Stanleybet
Nov 10, 2008
- Brussels
The Greek State on Saturday 8 November, in direct contravention of EU law, arrested three customers as well as Stanleybet intermediary Mr Theodoros Lazaridis.
All four were charged with violating Greek sports betting monopoly legislation and held in custody overnight. However, the prosecutor, deviating from normal procedure, released them without subjecting them to a Court hearing. Instead, he ordered further investigation.
This followed similar action taken against Stanleybet in Athens on Thursday 6 November when Stanleybet International intermediary Mr Alexandros Vasdekis was also treated in the same way.
Trading was interrupted as the authorities removed vital computer equipment which remains impounded.
Adrian Morris, Deputy Managing Director, Stanleybet International, said:
“This action, to arrest Mr Lazaridis and three citizens, is clearly contrary to established European law and ECJ jurisprudence.
“Furthermore we have a discriminatory situation where the Greek State is persecuting ordinary citizens who enter a shop to bet, without taking similar action against all those who bet online. It is now vital that the European Commission urgently addresses this unlawful behavior and specifically pursues the outstanding infringement procedure.
“The decision of the Prosecutors to release everyone, without conducting formal indictment proceedings allows the re-opening of our outlet. This is a clear indication that the Greek authorities consider that our business model is legitimate under European law, and that there are flaws in the Greek’s own restrictive domestic legislation. The European Commission must act to ensure that an abuse of the rule of law does not continue.”
Article 49 of the EU Treaty provides Stanleybet International with the right to offer cross-border sports betting services. This right has been consistently upheld by the European Court of Justice, most notably in the landmark Gambelli and Placanica rulings in which Stanleybet International was the substantive party.
Greece is one of ten European Union countries whose sports betting legislation is subject to infringement proceedings by the European Commission as being contrary to European law
Greece received a Reasoned Opinion from the European Commission in February 2008 on the grounds that its monopolistic restrictions and penal sanctions in its sports betting legislation are inconsistent and disproportionate with EU law. The next stage is expected to be a referral to the European Court of Justice.
These events follow the launch last Thursday at the European Parliament of www.FairplayforSportsBetting.eu which calls for fair, open and equal access to all European markets for all EU-based sports betting operators.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Konstantinos Maragkakis
Head of Communications
Stanleybet International
Email: konstantinos.maragkakis@stanleyint.com
GSM: +32 472 28 07 42
Mobile (Greece) +30 6909039601
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