Tipico has reportedly been taken to court by Greek businessman Antonios Stampolidis, for allegedly forging clauses in a contract with a franchise partner.

Stampolidis represents Chadborn Holdings, which owns 10 Tipico shops in Austria, and has asked police to investigate the situation, according to Malta Today.

He has also sued Tipico and its former director, Oliver Voigt, for damages in the amount of €14m ($15.6m).

Stampolidis has argued contracts were altered between himself and Tipico, suggesting the one he actually agreed no longer exists.

He said: "They did not like that I sent them a contract with deleted sentences.

"So, with their logic, they kept my signature and in all the parts where I deleted, because I did not agree, they changed them for the contract to suit them and only them."

Tipico publicly stated the accusations were "completely not true" and have ultimately challenged Stampolidis and Chadborn Holdings. The case remains ongoing.