The Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) has fined gambling group OPAP €24.5 million ($26 million) for breaches of local fair market regulations.
According to local press, complaints against the group were made by the Hellenic Cooperative of Professional Lotteries’ Agents (SEPPP) alongside other unnamed agents. The SEPPP alleged that the OPAP breached Greek law as a result of its 2017 Exclusivity Agency Agreement.
Following an investigation into the complaints, the HGC found that OPAP had breached Article 2 of Law 3959/2011 with respect to the right to free competition in the Greek marketplace. This prohibits any company from abusing its position in the market, particularly those that dominate specific segments.
The investigation found that the former monopoly holder had also breached Article 1 of the law which prohibits the fixing of purchase prices, the limiting of investment opportunities or unfairly applying transaction conditions.
The HGC also ruled that articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) were also breached as these set out the same requirements as local articles 1 and 2.
As a result of the investigation, the HGC has ordered OPAP to cease any activities that breach these laws and has imposed a fine of €10,000 for each rule breach every day that it does not comply.
The HGC also imposed a fine of €24.5 million for all four breaches.
Responding to the HGC’s decision, OPAP said:
“The company respects the institutional role of independent administrative authorities, including the Hellenic Competition Commission. Yet, it strongly disagrees with the content of the decision, which it considers fully baseless.
“[HGC’s] decision, which was not unanimous, does not relate with the company’s core business in the gaming market, but has to do with bill payment services and mobile top-up services offered by its agencies.”
So far in 2023, gambling regulators across the globe have issued a total of €384,446,994 (£333,342,354/$402,510,835) in fines and penalties.
Based in London, Natasha is a former sports journalist with experience working for some of the biggest athletes & brands in the world of sports and iGaming.