Gambling is expected to enter a new era shortly as deregulation opens up gambling market to international companies. A 60-year gaming monopoly operated by state-owned Danske Spil is set to be terminated when the government announces its plans for deregulation on this week. A current European Commission lawsuit alleging the monopoly violates free market regulations was a major factor in pressuring the government into the move.

Greek authorities have raided a sports betting outlet in central Athens belonging to Britain’s Stanleybet, only a week after it began to operate in a challenge to the Greek state-owned gaming monopoly, known as OPAP. The decision is likely to reignite argument about lack of access for private gaming companies that want to provide sports betting services in several European Union markets where lucrative monopolies exist.