Visitors will only be able to enter casinos by presenting a card as of 2025

A new card system is set to be introduced in all casinos across Cyprus as of 2025, with visitors only able to enter if they present said card, according to the President of the Cyprus Gaming and Casino Supervision Commission, Christos Mavrellis.

He was presenting the Commission’s latest campaign, entitled “You can change the game” when he was asked if the casinos attract more men or women. Mavrellis said there was a mix of both. Then added, “As of next year, we will be in a position to know much more easily, at any given moment who entered, who exited, their sex, age, everything; because we are promoting a system where anyone visiting a casino and playing will have to present a card, which they will have to have issued and only with that card will they be able to play”.

He added, “Anyone wishing to enter a casino will have to present this card. Also, in order to operate a (gaming) machine, they must enter the card. The same applies for anyone playing the roulette; they must first present the card”.

As Mavrellis explained, the card holders will be registered and the Commission will have the necessary data to make clearer evaluations.

And there are additional benefits, he noted. “With the card, it will be much easier for someone to set their own limits for how long they will play and how much money they will be able to play."

He did stress, however, that this will not be mandated by law. “But we appreciate the fact that the operator has accepted our request and as of next month, these cards will start being issued with the aim of applying them in all casinos by early 2025,” Mavrellis explained.

As he said, the card system is currently being implemented on a pilot basis at the satellite casino in Paphos.

The Commission’s new campaign

Elsewhere, presenting the gaming commission’s new campaign, Mavrellis emphasised that prevention starts with information, hence the decision to launch a communication campaign with the slogan 'You can control the game', promoting the idea that anyone who deals with gambling has the possibility, through self-control of their own movements, to protect themselves from the risk of gambling addiction.

As Mavrellis said, over the past five years, more than 3,900 registered casino visitors have chosen to participate in responsible gambling programmes, reducing the risk of problematic gambling. Of those, 400 were distanced from the casinos as part of these protection measures.

Also, more than 1,300 visitors were given recommendations on how to avoid developing problems.

(Source: InBusinessNews)