Northern Cyprus casinos urged to lift the ban on locals visiting

Northern Cyprus casinos urged to lift the ban on locals visiting

Representatives of the gaming and tourism business in Northern Cyprus have called for a review of the current ban that prevents TRNC citizens from visiting casinos. In their view, this measure drives money to the Republic of Cyprus and weakens the local economy.

The Casino Operators Association believes that instead of bans, a responsible gambling system should be introduced. Among the proposals are keeping the minimum age at 25, restricting access for certain categories of citizens, and introducing a registration and visitor monitoring system.

Industry representatives also separately criticized police raids on casinos, saying they create a negative impression among foreign tourists. In their view, oversight should be carried out by special civilian bodies rather than the police.

According to the industry, 33 casinos operate in Northern Cyprus, and the hotel and gaming sector employs around 25,000 people and remains one of the largest sources of income for the economy.