€1m problem gambling prevention plan outlined by Cypriot regulator

Copyright : Evgenii Khadeev / 123RF Stock Photo

A campaign has been launched on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus in an attempt to secure a €1m budget to prevent gambling addiction, primarily amongst young nationals of the island, report media outlets.

It is said that the Cyprus National Betting Authority has asked the government for the sum to aid support for those exposed to the activity, to combat potential addiction amongst locals.

Requested to design a series of initiatives promoting responsible gaming and dealing with cases of gambling addiction, plans also include the establishment of a specialist prevention and intervention centre.

The aim of the development would be to provide information and supportive measures to gamblers and the general public, in addition to strengthening those centres already providing services to people experiencing such issues.

Furthermore, an online portal is also desired, in order to allow consumers to self-exclude themselves from gaming services, with educational workshops set to carried out across Cypriot schools and elsewhere.

Last month it was revealed that 470,000 people had been welcomed through the doors of the country’s casinos during the first six months of operation, resulting in revenue of €35m.

This comes as Melco International Development constructs its €550m City of Dreams Mediterranean complex in Limassol, as part of which, due to an exclusive agreement with Cyprus’ government, the company is able to open one temporary and four satellite establishments.

Limassol was the first to witness a grand opening in June of last year, with its temporary entity set to remain in operation until the larger casino resort is complete.

Following this, Cyprus Casinos Nicosia, or C2 Nicosia, was the initial satellite casino to swing open its doors, doing so in early December, before Cyprus Casinos Larnaca, also known as C2 Larnaca, situated at its International Airport – Glafcos Clerides, opened later in the same month.

City of Dreams Mediterranean is billed as Europe’s biggest integrated casino resort and is expecting to bring a financial impact on the Cypriot economy to tune of approximately €700m per year.

It’s gaming area is set be installed with 36 tables and 1,200 gaming machines, with the complex also featuring a five-star hotel with luxurious villas and 500 hotel rooms, 11 restaurants and cafeterias, a wellness centre, a sports centre, an extensive pool area with river woods and surf pools, a high-end retail area and an outdoor amphitheatre with extensive green areas.