Hey! Look what happened in Greece a while back!!!!!!
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As a result of a goverment measures in Greece againts illegal gambling, the greek goverment, having in mind that every computer game can be converted into a illegal gambling game, has forbitten the installation of EVERY Electronic Game in Greece.
To be more specific, if you play or install Computer Games, Cellphone Games or even consol Games like Gameboy/xbox/playstation you can get arrested, go to jail and even pay a large amount of money (About 1.000 euro). To achive that, she banned all kind of games in the Internet Cafs. The first 3 paragraphs of the new Law are the following:
LAW NUMBER 3037 - 30 July 2002
GAMING PROHIBITION
The President of Greek Republic
We issue the following law which was voted by the Greek Parliament
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Article 1
Game categories
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According to notion of the commands of the current law:
a. Mechanical games are those, that depend on one's muscle force.
b. Electrical games are those, that depend on electrical mechanisms.
c. Electromechanical games are those that depend on electrical mechanisms and the use of one's muscle force.
d. Electronic games are those, that depend on both electrical-electronic mechanisms and software.
e. Entertainment technical games are those, whose result depends exclusively on the ability and skill of the
player, and are used solely for entertainment.
The category (e) also includes all card games which had been characterised as
"technical" games, according to the statement of law F.E.K A21.
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Article 2
Game prohibition
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1. Operation and installation of any game of type (b), (c) and (d) of article 1, including computer games,
placed in public places such as hotels, cafeterias, organization halls and in any other public or private
place, is prohibited.
2. Operation of games of type (e) is allowed in devices of type (a). Regarding these games, it is prohibited to place bets.
Such bets will attract penalties described in Articles 4 and 5.
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article 3
Internet cafs
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The prohibition of using computers described in article 2 does not affect internet cafs, as long as the computers
are not used for any gaming activities.
To be able to run an Internet cafe, a special permit is required from the municipal or the state where the
company is based) and from its starting point (port) if it is a boat based company. According to the first
application of this measure, the company should be equipped with this permit in three months
from the issue date of this law.
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As you have read the above law, only one think can come in your mind. Are they crazy. Allready the greek police has arrested 2 owners of internet cafs, but the were found NOT guilty from the Law court of Thessaloniki. The court also decided that the law is Not-Republic . After that, everybodys expectation was that the Greek Parliament would re-consider of the law and cancel it. But NO. Not only the law is still active, but the Police has in progress larger - range activities. The internet - cafs owenrs group has decided to take legal actions against all the PUBLIC SERVICES that are using computers. Cause any pre-installed Microsoft Windows Based PC, has pre-installed computer
games like solitaire...
Also a funny thing happened. Microsoft offers a trip to a lucky US gamer to Greece. She also offers a cash prize of about $800. Its about the money you'll have to pay if youy get arrested. She also offers you hotel rooms but it is most likely as she says, not to be able to use the room as a result of being arrested. Interesed? Visit
http://www.microsoft.com/games/ageofmyt ... stakes.asp
Now that you have read all the above. Do you think that something is wrong? Do you thing that Greece has gone MAD? If yes, protest about this law! Visit the online protest at
http://www.netcafes.gr
I think it is the right time for our voice to be heard. To your voice to be heard... GREECE HAS GONE GAMIN' MAD!!!!
