Online Gambling Scandal in Cyprus

A continued crackdown on illegal gambling sites has discovered a number of illegal casino operations on the island of Cyprus. Once again, organised crime operating from the Mediterranean island has attracted attention, with reports emerging of unlawful land-based operations defrauding gamblers. 

Cyprus is one of the most popular remote locations for operating online gambling sites. Its lax laws have unfortunately meant that the country has developed a reputation for also pulling in disreputable companies associated with organised crime syndicates that use gambling sites as a front for laundering illegally gained money. 

Several internet cafés around Cyprus were reported to the authorities when customers reported losing vast amounts of money. Customers gambling and playing at online casinos had discovered that money went missing from their accounts shortly after playing in one the abovementioned cafés. Investigations found that the cafés had links to Romanian and Bulgarian companies that have been found to be developing fraudulent system programs. 

The Attorney General on Cyprus has ordered all land-based casinos offering virtual gambling to close down their operations. A new bill has also cleared parliament and is awaiting EU approval, which will see a ban on all forms of online sports betting being brought into operation. 

It is hoped that the police clampdown on illegal gambling operations will lead to a more regulated gaming industry, which at present is allowing these operations to set up on the island. A number of popular gaming, poker and casino sites currently operate out of Cyprus, and may well be looking at their operations more closely depending on the outcome in parliament.