Ioannis Spanoudakis, who as chief executive of the Greek gambling monopoly OPAP should know, has confirmed statements three weeks ago that gambling liberalisation is on the cards, and that online sports betting operations are on the OPAP future agenda.
Speaking this week on an earnings call, Spanoudakis said he anticipates that internet sports betting will be a fact of life in Greece a year hence, in May 2011.
“With regards to online gaming regulation, the government has already engaged with us in discussions,” the gambling exec revealed. “Legislation as applied in France and Italy and in other European areas is most likely to be the kind of guiding regulations that the Greek government will be basing its framework on.”
Spanoudakis added that the Greek government could commence drafting a law for debate as early as this (June) month in order to give itself plenty of time for public consultation, political debate and submission to the European Commission.