OPAP calls on Greek High Court to cancel new gambling levy

Greek gambling company OPAP has filed a petition with the country’s Council of State to annul and suspend a new tax levy on its games.

Greece’s Finance Ministry last year confirmed that from the start of 2016, a tax of €0.05 ($0.054) per column would be placed on all OPAP games in order to help raise an additional €300 million in revenue.

OPAP has hit out at the decision, branding the new levy as unconstitutional and against not only the European Convention on Human Rights, but also European and Greek law.

The firm, which also noted that the levy is transferred to punters and collected by the state, claimed it is technically impossible to adjust the software on its gaming machines and collect the tax.

In addition, OPAP said it may have to suspend some of its games, which will in turn result in “irreparable economic losses”.

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