TRNC authorities contemplating lifting casino ban on Turkish Cypriots - FM denies move

TRNC authorities are contemplating lifting the ban on Turkish Cypriots going to casinos fearing they will cross the Green Line to gamble at the new casino in Limassol, south Cyprus or the planned ones in other districts.

According to report by Turkish Cypriot daily Haberal Kibrisli on Wednesday, citing ‘finance minister’, Serdar Denktash, as saying they were working towards lifting the ban.

Denktash referred to the opening of the casinos in south Cyprus and said that lifting the ban would prevent Turkish Cypriots from crossing to gamble.

‘Foreign minister’ Kudret Ozersay, denied the move however on his social media account.

There is neither any such an idea or plans of the government or the responsible ministry in the works, he was quoted as saying.

Therefore it is not necessary to spread such information around. Instead of allowing our citizens free entrance to the casinos, we should undertake other measures, for example intensifying inspections and controls at the casinos, control the licences of the existing ones, collect more taxes.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan cites the head of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) Izzet Izcan condemning any encouragement of Turkish Cypriots to visit the casinos in north Cyprus.

Izcan called on the ‘prime minister’ Tufan Erhuman to clarify the situation.