On 22 July, the European Commission announced legal steps against the government
of Greece for it's unjust anti-gaming law. The Commission questions the
compatibility of the law in question (of 29 July 2002) with the provisions of
the EC Treaty on the free movement of goods and services and the freedom of
establishment.
The Greek law puts a general ban on computer games, without any distinction
between slot machines and computer-games, thus making it totally impossible to
provide and supply electronic games equipment and programs or to perform related
activities (for example, the installation, repair and maintenance of such
equipment and programs).
According to the Commission, the law "could be disproportionate, insofar as it
tends to encompass, on the one hand, equipment (slot machines) and games of
chance which might give rise to social concerns and, on the other, games of an
entirely different nature which are not, in themselves, a source of particular
disquiet with regard to public order or consumer protection."
Earlier, this same law was declared unconstitutional by a judge, and charges
against three people were dismissed. All three of them were operating or working
for internetcafe's.
