In response to today's articles (22/2/2006), OPAP SA announces the following:

a) The integrity and transparency of OPAP games, is ensured by a combination of procedures (policies, independent control committees, information systems) each of which operates as an independent control mechanism. More specifically, the data of the coupons are secured before each lottery draw or prior to the start of competition. Assurance is achieved under the supervision of a 15-member Independent Control Committee, appointed according to article 27, Law 2843/2000 (Official Legal Notice 219 Α) by a ministerial decision and it includes exclusively governmental officials and specialists. This independent committee may undertake any steps deemed necessary, so as to adhere to safety clauses and ensure the integrity and efficiency of the transactions that have been registered by OPAPs main computer system.

b) Further more, since June 2004 and in view of the ongoing investigation by the Fiscal Authorities of the well known case of "money laundering", all reasonable and necessary evidence relating to the procedure for issuing "profit certifications" to players participating in the company's games, was made available to the competent Court and Fiscal Authorities (having informed at the same time the Supreme Court's General Prosecutor). The issue mentioned above is under investigation by the relevant juridical authority.