Greece Facing Trouble

It is surprising in this day and age how many countries are now jumping on the band wagon to ban slot machines. Slot machines have been around so long that many countries feel that they are really very harmless. However, others are bowing to pressure from various groups, most of which are religious, which stress that slot machines and gambling are wrong and should be eliminated.

Greece is the latest country to come under fire for their laws that declare that slot machines are illegal. In 2002 a law was drafted when the previous PASOK government was running things, and they wanted fruit machines banned. They said that the machines, which had spread across the country in arcades, were illegal. However, it was then expanded to cover all slot machines in all public areas.

The only slot machines that were not illegal were the ones that were located inside licensed casinos. However, the European Court of Justice has a problem with the slot machine ban saying that it violates the principles of free movement of goods and services. The European Court convicted Greece in October of 2006 but they have not changed their policy.

Now the Chief Prosecutor of the court is proposing that the country be handed a two million Euro fine for their slot machine ban. Not only that, but they want them fined an additional 32,000 Euro a day until the slot machine ban is overturned. It is unclear whether or not Greece is going to pay the fine should it go through, or if they will make slot machines legal again within the country.

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