The European Commission took Greece to the EU's highest court on Thursday over a law that bans computer games, even in people's homes.
The European Union executive said the ban on the use and installation of electronic and computer games violates the bloc's rules on the free movement of goods and services between its 25 member states.
"The way the law is drafted means that it is theoretically illegal to play with your GameBoy at home or even to play snakes on your mobile phone," spokesman Jonathan Todd told reporters.
Greece's blanket ban on everything from slot machines to GameBoys came about when Athens passed legislation in 2002 to prevent illegal gambling. But it also put games found on mobile phones and home computers on its blacklist.
The Commission argues the law is disproportionate because it not only applies to things like slot machines, which may give rise to social concern, but also to games that threaten neither public order nor consumers.
Greece promised to amend the legislation after the Commission warned in April that the country may face a suit at the European Court of Justice, but has so far failed to do so.
"We are referring Greece to the court because we believe the effect of this law is to hinder the free movement of goods and at the same time to hinder the free provision of services in the form of repairs to these types of devices and games," Todd said.
