OPAP WANTS THE TURKISH LOTTO

5 September 2008

CEO says Greek gambling monopoly will submit a tender


The Greek gambling monopoly OPAP is spreading its wings with plans to tender for the Turkish government's Milli Piyango lotto, which is being privatised. OPAP's chief, Christos Hadjiemmanouil, revealed this week that his company, in partnership with Turkish business groups Dogus, which owns Garanti Bank, FIBA and contractor Alarco is submitting a tender.

Speaking to the Greek newspaper Daily Kathimerini over the weekend, Hadjiemmanouil said: "We want this project, we want to get into the largest market in southeast Europe, we have the ability to take over [Milli Piyango]."

Hadjiemmanouil was bullish about the firm's chances of success, saying that OPAP had been warmly received by the Turks. "The climate we met was positive ... there was a friendly mood and open doors," the executive said.

However, OPAP will not have a clear field; also pitching for the lotto are Lottomatica subsidiary GTech, Intralot, the Turkish Koc Group , Austrian Lotteries and Anglo American companies like Scientific Games and Camelot.

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