Were raids on local Stanleybet shops in Greece, back in October/November, legal or illegal? That's what the European Commission will determine.

Stanleybet appealed the aforementioned raids and subsequent closures of its betshops in Greece back in January.

The Athens and Thessaloniki betshops were, according to Greek law, violating territorial rights held by Greek monopoly OPAP by virtue of being open, however, by closing down both shops, Stanleybet says that Greece violated EU laws.

"We are determined to defend a regulated, fair and competitive sports betting market in Greece," Stanleybet said in a statement in early-2009.

"We are confident about the outcome of our case to the benefit of Greek consumers."

Stanleybet has now said that it put forth a grievance to the committee on petitions at the European Parliament relating to the Greek situation back in January and the EU has said it will investigate the situation.

"The Greek authorities' behaviour is clearly outrageous, and I am pleased that the European Parliament has decided to investigate," Stanleybet CEO John Whittaker is quoted as saying in recentpoker.com.

"This behavior is all the more unacceptable and unfair given that OPAP, a private Greek company listed in the Athens Stock Exchange which abusively holds an exclusive right to offer sports betting services in Greece, has increased its own activity across state borders."