North Cyprus proposes bill to allow Turkish Cypriots into casinos
If passed, this landmark bill would allow Turkish Cypriots to enter casinos in North Cyprus for the first time.
Key points:
– Cyprus’ coalition Governement has proposed new casino legislation in the North
– The proposed bill would allow Turkish Cypriots into casinos in North Cyprus for the first time ever
– This latest update comes amidst additional recent betting-related legislative changes in the nation
New proposed amendments to legislation in North Cyprus would allow Turkish Cypriots, who hold a specific TRNC identity card, into casinos in the region for the very first time.
The bill has been put forward by Cyprus’ ruling coalition and was revealed by opposition party CTP member MP Salahi Sahiner. Indeed, the new bill would allow for casino permits to be automatically offered to hotels with 1,000 beds or more – whilst also specifying that the new legislative amendments would spell the end of the five casino per company limit currently enforced in North Cyprus.
Further, the changes would also allow casinos to be built near schools and within town or city centres on the island – a development option that is currently prohibited in the nation.
Sahiner was openly critical of the bill, stating: “These regulations will make it easier for tax payments to be delayed and for unlimited casino permits to be granted. The Government is about to make one of the biggest mistakes in history while people’s lives are becoming more difficult day by day, and the Government is aiming to protect the interests of the casinos,” he said.
“The state of public finances is obvious and it has reached a point where we cannot even buy a needle without borrowing, while tension in society has practically brought us to the brink of civil war, but the Government’s only concern is to protect the interests of casinos.”
Good to know: Last April, North Cyprus motioned to half casino tax rates as part of a drastic tax reform
More recently, in December, the nation’s parliament approved a betting levy that seeks to support football clubs in the nation, another policy update which sparked fierce debate – as opponents argued that the bill rewards clubs for financial mismanagement.
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