[Boing Boing Blog] QUOTE
Greek government bans solitaire, mindsweeper, Quake, et al. The Greek government has banned all computer games -- from solitaire to Quake -- in an effort to crack down on Internet gambling. Good to see that Hollings-grade technophobia isn't just an American phenomenon. Link Discuss (Thanks, Two of Four!)
UNQUOTE [Boing Boing Blog]
Have they also banned games off of computers, such as Chess, Ball games (sports football basketball soccer tennis) horse shoes? After all, people watch sports games on TV, which is an electronic means of delivering news of the games to the spectators. Also many spectators have engaged in sports betting on the results since time immemorial. Technically, betting on results of horse races is not Internet gambling if done with a bookie, unless the telephone falls into the collection of gaming by electronic means.
The Greek government clarified the new law, in the wake of public outcry and confusion. They are not banning games that do not depend on electricity. I guess this means sports games indoors or at night (electricity of lights) are out, but some people are interpreting this to mean that games that are purely mechanical are still legal, such as dart board, horse shoes, ball games. How about games played to keep children from getting restless on long auto trips? The Greek Retail Industry must be sighing in relief, because now board games for kids in the Christmas season will not be banned.
In some European nations, an extremely popular game is for the news media to publish a photo of a ball game in which the ball is missing from the photo, then people send in money with their doodle of where they think the ball belongs in the picture, based on the body language of the players. Winner takes all, except the photo service cut. Obviously this game is now illegal in Greece, because photography is published using electricity.
Greek Industries, that are now out of business, are making a case to the Greek government arguing that some games cannot easily be used for gambling, such as space war, driving games, and therefore should be exempted from this ban. I can't see that arguement having merit. Humans will bet on anything. Here is a Petition asking the Greek government to preserve their entertainment industry (are movies and music also threatened?), with lots of links to other information sources on this controversy.
That [Boing Boing Blog] Link is to The Register which says that Internet gambling was already illegal in Greece before this new law was passed, but apparently the Greek government was incapable of distinquishing innocent games from illegal gambling, so the simple solution was to throw the baby out with the bath water.
The ban includes all kinds of games supported by computers, software, any electronic means, such as video arcade games, pac man. I assume this means the Casino business has now been banned in Greece, which of course is good for Nevada and other places where the Casino business is still healthy. Meanwhile Germany has imposed a tax on the coins that are stuffed into video arcade amusement games.
This of course means that On Line Chess is banned from Internet Cafes. Internet Cafes can still do other stuff in Greece, but anyone who operates a PC in a public area for commercial purposes must pay a tax on each machine. This includes hotels, cybercafes, and clubs. The rationale here is that such machines must be primarily used for Internet gaming. Does this mean that hotels that have computers for reservations of rooms will be presumed guilty of Internet gaming, because of the mere fact the computer is in a public area (the hotel check in desk)?
Do they have public libraries, computers in public schools? I see a cottage industry in software to remove solitaire games from Windows. Bill Gates may offer a special version of Windows that is legal in Greece, sold at excessive high price since he has a captive audience - buy the upgrade or we will report you to the Gaming Police.
Since 9/11, Insurance Rates have skyrocketed for thrill rides in amusement parks in Australia, because of the increased risks of a terrorist bombing. This is forcing some of those activities to shut down entirely.
In the Discuss above it was brought up that Athens is hosting the 2004 Olympic Games, and didn't they just make the Olympics illegal? ... debate is over definitions ... the Olympics uses electricity for tracking the rankings and scores and showing people the judge's rulings, and also people at home watch on TV, which uses electricity. I am sure Spectators pay money to attend, and there is a lot of money in the sponsorships.
Another related story [Boing Boing Blog] QUOTE
Bridge player stripped of medal for refusing drug test. The World Federation of Bridge is attempting to get bridge recognized as an Olympic Sport, so it is requiring that bridge athletes be drug-tested. This year's silver medalist has been stripped of her title for refusing to pee in a cup. Link Discuss UNQUOTE [Boing Boing Blog]
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