OPAP is reportedly set to face legal challenges from disgruntled bidders after the Greek monopoly operator cancelled a long-opened tendering process in favour of renewing its IT contract with systems provider Intralot this week.

Greece has one of the highest per capita expenditures on betting in the world, in a market controlled by OPAP, one of the world’s most overarching betting monopolies, but OPAP’s licence to operate is soon to expire and speculation surrounds the next moves for one of Europe’s most powerful operators.

The Greek gaming market is highly lucrative yet highly restricted, a combination which has seen the jurisdiction become the arena for high profile disputes between the state monopoly and various online operators.

William Hill threatens ECJ action if the Greek government rejects its application for a licence to open betting shops in Greece.

Greek betting technology company Intralot is facing an arbitration hearing at the Paris International Chamber of Commerce, instigated by the Polish Government over a €5.2m claim.

OPAP’s cancellation of its IT tender in August seems set to land the company in court after aggrieved G-Tech has confirmed that is has issued a legal challenge over the decision. OPAP, however, seems unbowed and intends to push for an expansion of its services following the impending Greek elections.

The decision by OPAP to halt its tender process and extend its contract for provision of technology in Greece with Intralot last year caused controversy and led to an unsuccessful legal challenge by GTech, one of the bidders excluded at the eleventh hour. Now the EU is getting involved and is looking at OPAP’s procurement processes at the same time as the legality of the organisation is also being challenged.

Following the decision by local courts to allow Stanleybet’s betting shop to reopen pending a hearing to establish the legality the bookmaker’s actions, the Council of State is today set to examine appeals against the Greek state from both Stanleybet International and William Hill.

The office of EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy yesterday announced that Greece would have an additional two months to respond to its infringement proceedings. However, recent strong results from monopoly gambling operator OPAP show no signs of a change in direction and there are indications that even some of its domestic legal challenges are falling away.

Europe’s biggest betting firm, OPAP, faces tough trading conditions and a drop in income and profitability if new Greek tax changes come into force, despite a favourable new deal that binds its agents to the company, according to analysts.