Soccer link to big wins at OPAP
Prosecutors could be set to investigate more than 1,000 people, including the presidents of soccer clubs, referees and players, who have won at least 100,000 euros on lottery and sports betting games run by the state betting agency (OPAP) between 2000 and 2004, sources told Sunday’s Kathimerini. The board of OPAP is said to have asked 16 months ago for the financial crimes squad to investigate some 1,200 people recorded on their system as having won sizable amounts, on more than one occasion in many cases. However, the probe ended up focusing on 10 people who won millions after handing in tickets from all over the country, including Alexandros Angelopoulos, who is about to stand trial for drug smuggling. Authorities suspect that these wins may have been linked to money-laundering operations. OPAP has now asked prosecutors to look into the other names on its list of people who have won more than 100,000 euros. Sources indicated that the list contains several high-profile names, including officials from soccer clubs, players and match referees.
