Greece bans gaming!

Dastardly · 06 September 2002, 14:33

Ive just heard that Greece has banned ALL electronic gaming!

Is this true? Do we have any Greek members who can confirm this?

Paul · 06 September 2002, 14:41

Have a look at
http://www.total-amiga.com/Vbulletin...=&threadid=940
http://www.emuunlim.com/forums/showt...&threadid=1745

Fred the Fop · 06 September 2002, 15:06

What?? What kind of gaming? What'll happen to users or vendors? this is a hoax.
Alkis21, is this true?
Update: The news is all over. This is unlikely to be a hoax. My view is that it is incompetent and ANY arrest of gaming vendor , and certainly any arrest of gamers is unlikely and would be crushed in court. Greek democracy, the world's first, has just made themselves look like complete idiots.

Drake1009 · 06 September 2002, 16:13

Let's hope they fix it very soon.

06 September 2002, 17:46

Sounds like a law aimed at the gambling games (blackjack etc.) gone wrong.

Djay · 06 September 2002, 18:04

Man.... we live in a stupid world.... next they will ban breathing air

Twistin'Ghost · 07 September 2002, 03:27

I'm just as sickened that people like Snowdog exist...

alkis21 · 09 September 2002, 09:51

There is *some* truth in this story, and it's ridiculous all right,
but most of the articles on the internet are oversimplifying & overreacting.
Just look at this phrase I read: "Thousands of
tourists in Greece are unknowingly facing heavy fines or long terms in
prison for owning mobile phones or portable video games". Greece is
currently #2 in Europe in mobile phone connections. We don't have
enough jails to fit 90% of the population in!

Here's the story: A few months ago, the Greek goverment launched an
attack against stores that had illegal slot machines and gained tax
free fortunes thanks to them. These machines are very difficult to
trace, as they can be switched from entertaining (no money needed to
play) to gambling with the press of a button from a remote control. So
they decided to vote for a law that prohibited all game machines of
any kind. The way the law is written, it affects everything from
arcade rooms to internet cafes (as people play online games in them).
It has definetely nothing to do with gameboys, mobile phones or the
games you have in your house.
I read the law and it looks like it was written by a 12 year old. Many
have protested so far, and I'm sure logic will prevail eventually and
they will amend some of the articles.
The government is already beginning to realize the ridicule of the situation,
the minister of finance made it clear that this law is about games that involve MONEY.
At first I was worried as I'm hosting a Kick Off 2 World Cup in
November, with 32 people from 8 countries, but my lawyer said there
was nothing to worry about.
I hope that clears this up.

alkis21 · 09 September 2002, 09:52

It is said that each country gets they governors it deserves.. but I KNOW we deserve better, damn it!

Antiriad · 09 September 2002, 16:04

Theres always the humourous irony in any Greek governmental boob boos that this is the country that democracy originated from

Burge · 09 September 2002, 16:48

Gaming = gambling and the like.

Gaming does not equal playing computer and video games to the official people as it's like slang for playing games to them.

CPC464 · 09 September 2002, 16:56

Phew

Thanks alkis21 for clearing that up

Imagine a Country without Gaming (as In computer gaming)

AAARRRGGGHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Boy that is a nightmare :eek

kriz · 09 September 2002, 17:36

yeah VERY stupid post by snowdog (in emu-uk).... i first thought he was kidding but no .... ms slave ...

alkis21 · 11 September 2002, 12:13

I am delighted to announce that in the first trial regarding law 3037, the Court of First Instance of Thessaloniki found the owners of the Internet Cafe non-guilty.

The Court declared that the law is UNCONSTITUTIONAL...

The policemen admitted that the games in the Internet Cafe were not by any mean LUCKY GAMES. The Defence proved that this law has many antifases regarding computer and video games.

This decision actually proves that the law is not valid and will make the government to re-evaluate which games should be allowed and which not....

Fred the Fop · 11 September 2002, 12:45

Wondeful! I knew the Greek people were not going to stand for this!
What about if you were playing "Zeus" on the PC? WOuld it be ok?

Amiga1992 · 11 September 2002, 17:11

Excellent Alkis! A country without arcades is like a country without soul

alkis21 · 12 September 2002, 07:37

I'll drink to that!

16 September 2002, 11:28

It's just been on UK TV channel "BBC News 24".

They have banned all electronic games in public - but you can still go to casino's and gamble there !

A government minister was saying "They cannot have any exceptions to the rule".

Cybercafe owners are in big trouble with their businesses.

Sounds pretty f**king stupid if you ask me ! It had a guy saying "We are not china", "We are not a strict muslim country", "What is happening".

UK people with BBCN24, no doubt it will be repeated in an hour or so as these channels show the same stuff all day !

alkis21 · 16 September 2002, 12:49

Jim, read what I wrote again. The law was proven to be unconstitutional on the court. Any law suit based on that law will be pointless from now on.

16 September 2002, 13:16

It said that on the news.

But apparently the government is not backing down.

06 September 2002, 14:33	#1
Dastardly Into the Wonderful Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: England Age: 49 Posts: 2,335	Greece bans gaming! Ive just heard that Greece has banned ALL electronic gaming! Is this true? Do we have any Greek members who can confirm this?

06 September 2002, 15:06	#3
Fred the Fop flaming faggot Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Versailles Age: 55 Posts: 2,808	What?? What kind of gaming? What'll happen to users or vendors? this is a hoax. Alkis21, is this true? Update: The news is all over. This is unlikely to be a hoax. My view is that it is incompetent and ANY arrest of gaming vendor , and certainly any arrest of gamers is unlikely and would be crushed in court. Greek democracy, the world's first, has just made themselves look like complete idiots. Last edited by Fred the Fop; 06 September 2002 at 15:15.

11 September 2002, 12:13	#14
alkis21 Zone Friend Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Athens, Greece Age: 49 Posts: 1,408	Latest news I am delighted to announce that in the first trial regarding law 3037, the Court of First Instance of Thessaloniki found the owners of the Internet Cafe non-guilty. The Court declared that the law is UNCONSTITUTIONAL... The policemen admitted that the games in the Internet Cafe were not by any mean LUCKY GAMES. The Defence proved that this law has many antifases regarding computer and video games. This decision actually proves that the law is not valid and will make the government to re-evaluate which games should be allowed and which not....

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Gaming since...	Djay	Nostalgia & memories	74	15 August 2010 23:46
The Future of Gaming	Dizzy	Nostalgia & memories	30	25 August 2008 12:23
Who is still using their Amiga for something other than gaming?	P-J	Nostalgia & memories	31	05 October 2007 04:27
8 player gaming	Tommy K	Retrogaming General Discussion	18	01 July 2005 16:12

06 September 2002, 14:41	#2
Paul RIP Friends Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: UK Posts: 2,157	Have a look at http://www.total-amiga.com/Vbulletin...=&threadid=940 http://www.emuunlim.com/forums/showt...&threadid=1745

06 September 2002, 16:13	#4
Drake1009 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Denmark Posts: 2,284	Let's hope they fix it very soon.

06 September 2002, 17:46	#5
Pete Posts: n/a	Sounds like a law aimed at the gambling games (blackjack etc.) gone wrong.

06 September 2002, 18:04	#6
Djay 95th User Join Date: May 2001 Location: Brighton/UK Age: 48 Posts: 3,120	Man.... we live in a stupid world.... next they will ban breathing air

07 September 2002, 03:27	#7
Twistin'Ghost Give up the ghost Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: U$A Age: 33 Posts: 4,662	I'm just as sickened that people like Snowdog exist...

09 September 2002, 09:51	#8
alkis21 Zone Friend Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Athens, Greece Age: 49 Posts: 1,408	There is some truth in this story, and it's ridiculous all right, but most of the articles on the internet are oversimplifying & overreacting. Just look at this phrase I read: "Thousands of tourists in Greece are unknowingly facing heavy fines or long terms in prison for owning mobile phones or portable video games". Greece is currently #2 in Europe in mobile phone connections. We don't have enough jails to fit 90% of the population in! Here's the story: A few months ago, the Greek goverment launched an attack against stores that had illegal slot machines and gained tax free fortunes thanks to them. These machines are very difficult to trace, as they can be switched from entertaining (no money needed to play) to gambling with the press of a button from a remote control. So they decided to vote for a law that prohibited all game machines of any kind. The way the law is written, it affects everything from arcade rooms to internet cafes (as people play online games in them). It has definetely nothing to do with gameboys, mobile phones or the games you have in your house. I read the law and it looks like it was written by a 12 year old. Many have protested so far, and I'm sure logic will prevail eventually and they will amend some of the articles. The government is already beginning to realize the ridicule of the situation, the minister of finance made it clear that this law is about games that involve MONEY. At first I was worried as I'm hosting a Kick Off 2 World Cup in November, with 32 people from 8 countries, but my lawyer said there was nothing to worry about. I hope that clears this up.

09 September 2002, 09:52	#9
alkis21 Zone Friend Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Athens, Greece Age: 49 Posts: 1,408	It is said that each country gets they governors it deserves.. but I KNOW we deserve better, damn it!

09 September 2002, 16:04	#10
Antiriad The Sacred Armour Of Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Sussex, UK Age: 44 Posts: 1,141	Theres always the humourous irony in any Greek governmental boob boos that this is the country that democracy originated from

09 September 2002, 16:48	#11
Burge Get ready, Agent Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Perth / Australia Age: 42 Posts: 148	Gaming = gambling and the like. Gaming does not equal playing computer and video games to the official people as it's like slang for playing games to them.

09 September 2002, 16:56	#12
CPC464 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: York Age: 54 Posts: 393	Phew Thanks alkis21 for clearing that up Imagine a Country without Gaming (as In computer gaming) AAARRRGGGHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Boy that is a nightmare :eek

09 September 2002, 17:36	#13
kriz Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: No(R)Way Age: 41 Posts: 3,187	yeah VERY stupid post by snowdog (in emu-uk).... i first thought he was kidding but no .... ms slave ...

11 September 2002, 12:45	#15
Fred the Fop flaming faggot Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Versailles Age: 55 Posts: 2,808	Wondeful! I knew the Greek people were not going to stand for this! What about if you were playing "Zeus" on the PC? WOuld it be ok?

11 September 2002, 17:11	#16
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,645	Excellent Alkis! A country without arcades is like a country without soul

12 September 2002, 07:37	#17
alkis21 Zone Friend Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Athens, Greece Age: 49 Posts: 1,408	I'll drink to that!

16 September 2002, 11:28	#18
Jim Posts: n/a	It's just been on UK TV channel "BBC News 24". They have banned all electronic games in public - but you can still go to casino's and gamble there ! A government minister was saying "They cannot have any exceptions to the rule". Cybercafe owners are in big trouble with their businesses. Sounds pretty f**king stupid if you ask me ! It had a guy saying "We are not china", "We are not a strict muslim country", "What is happening". UK people with BBCN24, no doubt it will be repeated in an hour or so as these channels show the same stuff all day !

16 September 2002, 12:49	#19
alkis21 Zone Friend Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Athens, Greece Age: 49 Posts: 1,408	Jim, read what I wrote again. The law was proven to be unconstitutional on the court. Any law suit based on that law will be pointless from now on.

16 September 2002, 13:16	#20
Jim Posts: n/a	It said that on the news. But apparently the government is not backing down.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)