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Last Words
Greek government bans all computer games
By Thomas C Greene, The Register
03/09/2002
The government of Greece is making heroic efforts to humiliate the nation in front of the entire world, by banning all electronic games. That's right; something as innocent as playing computer chess on your laptop in a hotel lobby is now a crime with penalties of up to three months in stir and a fine of 10,000 euros.
The purpose behind this charming legislation is to crack down on Internet gambling (which already was illegal) -- or, rather, to enable legislators to enact their little public dance of righteous aversion to Internet gambling.
Improved enforcement of existing law is all that was needed, but there's a problem. Unfortunately, the Greek government is "incapable of distinguishing innocuous video games from illegal gambling machines," according to an older article from the English-language Kathimerini newspaper, written while the bill was under consideration.
Now it's official. The legislature has concluded that all electronic games have got to go because the bureaucrats they're maintaining on the public payroll aren't swift enough to figure out the difference between video poker and TuXkart. Perhaps enforcing literacy requirements and sobriety regulations for government workers would have been a more productive approach, but it's too late for that now.®
Read the full article at The Register
Links:
Petition online
Gameland.gr
ZDNet article
Update
Greece lifts computer games ban
By Tim Richardson
25/09/2002
Greece's ban on playing computer games appears to have been lifted.
According to an article in the English language Greek newspaper Kathimerini, the Government has sought to clarify a poorly worded law designed to crack down on electronic gambling.
The newspaper quotes a statement from the Economy and Finance Ministry, which said: "There is no problem for any individual or for the tourists visiting Greece to use their private electronic or other games such as Playstation, Gameboy, X-Box et cetera.
"It is permissible to set up and use gaming devices in areas used exclusively for habitation or residence, provided the use of the devices does not result in any form of financial gain for players or third parties," it said.
Earlier this month a Greek judge threw out a case against two cybercafe owners from Thessaloniki, ruling that a law banning computer games was unconstitutional.
Had they been found guilty, the two proprietors and an employee could have faced a three month jail sentence and fines of about E5,000 each, along with the loss of their business licences.
At the time it seemed as if common sense had returned following the Greek Government's introduction of a law banning the use of computer games.
However, last week confusion ruled once again an appeals court overturned the decision and ordered a retrial.
So has this latest missive from the Government cleared things up? Dunno - might be worth an e-flutter though.
Read the full article at The Register
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