Hellenic Organization of Football Prognostics S.A., or OPAP, a Greek lottery system operator, plans make a bid for Turkey’s national lottery, Reuters reports.
In a joint venture with Turkish business groups, the betting firm is eyeing Milli Piyango, the Turkish lottery, as an expansion opportunity.
Authorities told Reuters earlier this month that the privatization of the national lottery will happen weeks after it finishes regulatory work.
Christos D. Hatziemmanuel, OPAP chief executive, was quoted by the news service as saying: “We want this project; we want to get into the largest market in southeast Europe. We have the ability to take over (the lottery), but we are not rabid to do it at any cost.”
Milli Piyango made sales of 459.8 million Turkish lira, or $388.2 million, in 2008 and net profit of 331.8 million.