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08-04-04, 15:38
EU tells Greece to lift electronic games ban
Fri 2 April, 2004 10:46
ATHENS (Reuters) - The European Commission has threatened to take Greece to court if does not lift a ban on electronic games within two months.
The initial blanket ban on everything from slot machines to GameBoys came about when Greece passed a law in 2002 to prevent illegal gambling, but went overboard with provisions that also put games on mobile phones and home computers on the blacklist.
After the first few raids on cyber cafes offering games like simulated motor racing sparked ridicule, the government clarified that electronic games were allowed as long as no financial stakes were involved.
But with the law still on the statute books, the Commission argues it is at odds with EU rules because it bans products freely available in other member states and hampers the work of businesses offering related services, like the repair or installation of equipment.
"The Commission considers that the law in question...is incompatible with the provisions of the EC treaty on the free movement of goods and services...," the Commission said in a statement published on its website.
"In the absence of a satisfactory response within two months, the Commission may refer the member state concerned to the European Court of Justice."
The lifting of the ban would mean that slot machines and "one-armed bandits", currently confined to licensed casinos, could again make an appearance in arcades and bars.
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=CBNZHZZWZ2ZKKCRBAE0CFFA?type=topNews&storyID=4735049
Fri 2 April, 2004 10:46
ATHENS (Reuters) - The European Commission has threatened to take Greece to court if does not lift a ban on electronic games within two months.
The initial blanket ban on everything from slot machines to GameBoys came about when Greece passed a law in 2002 to prevent illegal gambling, but went overboard with provisions that also put games on mobile phones and home computers on the blacklist.
After the first few raids on cyber cafes offering games like simulated motor racing sparked ridicule, the government clarified that electronic games were allowed as long as no financial stakes were involved.
But with the law still on the statute books, the Commission argues it is at odds with EU rules because it bans products freely available in other member states and hampers the work of businesses offering related services, like the repair or installation of equipment.
"The Commission considers that the law in question...is incompatible with the provisions of the EC treaty on the free movement of goods and services...," the Commission said in a statement published on its website.
"In the absence of a satisfactory response within two months, the Commission may refer the member state concerned to the European Court of Justice."
The lifting of the ban would mean that slot machines and "one-armed bandits", currently confined to licensed casinos, could again make an appearance in arcades and bars.
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=CBNZHZZWZ2ZKKCRBAE0CFFA?type=topNews&storyID=4735049