The European Commission has delayed allowing OPAP to deploy 35,000 VLTs in Greece, which includes 16,500 of its own with the balance provided by IGT, Scientific Games and Inspired.
OPAP was expected to beginning rolling out its machines early this year after the Hellenic Gaming Commission in October adopted new regulations in June that allowed the lottery VLTS. OPAP has a ten-year exclusive license for the machines in Greece, which it won in 2011. So far, it has been unable to launch the gaming cabinets, with the most recent delay being the just rolled-out new regulations. OPAP was not consulted on the regulations before they were issued and has made its displeasure known.
Recently Regency Casino Mont Parnes filed an appeal against the commission’s decision, claiming that it would violate the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the Greek constitution and Greek law, including a 2011 law that tries to limit the appeal of gaming to youth and other vulnerable groups. The casino also argues that the VLTs will compete directly against it.
