Cyprus Authorities Plan to Ban Low-Income Citizens from Gambling

Cyprus authorities are considering creating a special registry for self-exclusion from gambling on the island, according to Cyprus Mail. Certain categories of citizens may be added to the registry without regard to their position on gambling.

The focus is on recipients of various social benefits, particularly those with a minimum income.

Cypriot authorities are concerned about the participation of these individuals in gambling, as cases are often recorded where low-income Cypriots, the disabled, and other vulnerable groups of the population spend all their available funds on bets, leading to tragic consequences.

This proposal was made during a parliamentary session with the participation of Ioanna Fiakkou, the president of the National Betting Authority of Cyprus.

The regulator’s head told deputies that the volume of bets accepted by licensed bookmakers on the island in 2022 increased by 22% to €959 million. The betting sector accounted for 3.55% of the country’s GDP.

Bookmakers directed €843.42 million to pay out winnings to players. Tax revenues to the budget from betting operators reached €11.75 million.

In addition, during the parliamentary session, the country’s Health Minister was asked to introduce a screening mechanism within the national healthcare system that would provide preventative treatment to people with early signs of gambling addiction.

It is worth noting that Georgia has previously introduced a ban on low-income citizens’ participation in gambling.