OPAP, the Greek betting firm, recently filed a petition with the Council of State to annul and suspend a new tax on its games. In order to help raise about 7.3 million in annual revenue, the Greek Finance Ministry imposed a tax of per column on all of OPAP’s games. The tax, which is transferred to wagerers and collected by the state, took effect January 1.
In a statement, OPAP said the tax is unconstitutional, and against the European Convention on Human Rights as well as European and Greek law. OPAP also claimed it is technically impossible to adjust the software of its electronic machines to calculate and collect the tax. The company also threatened to suspend some of the games, which could lead to “irreparable economic losses.”
