Restricting access of Turkish citizens to casinos in Northern Cyprus raises doubts about legality.

The unrestricted access of citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to betting shops and the lack of restrictions on online gambling have led to discussions about banning citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus from visiting casinos. Especially in recent days, the detention and punishment of many citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus during raids in casinos have raised the question of revisiting the ban on casino visits.

"ARE THEY PLAYING LEGAL OR ILLEGAL ONLINE GAMES?"

He noted that both legal and illegal online games are played using smartphones, installed anywhere in the world, and that there is no control over online games.

“THE BAN ON VISITING CASINOS BY CITIZENS OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS IS SENSELESS”

Sarychichek said that for a long time he has emphasized the senselessness of the ban on citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus visiting casinos. He stated that casinos are an expensive form of entertainment that can cause harm or addiction, and that authorities should regulate it by taking measures to prevent addiction or rehabilitate those who are dependent, rather than imposing a ban. Sarychichek said, "We are not going to reinvent the wheel," noting that no other country in the world imposes a ban on its citizens visiting entertainment venues. "The ban in Northern Cyprus comes from the colonial period of Britain; from Article 151," he said.

He reminded that in Southern Cyprus, the only requirement to visit a casino is age, and anyone over 21 can enter, responding to those who support the ban: "Imposing a ban means sending a person into a dark zone without protecting them." "If citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus did not have a ban on visiting casinos, statistics would be kept, and it would be known whether they are dependent or not," Sarychichek said.

Finally, he commented on the case of a citizen of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus who was playing in a casino where 271,000 Turkish lira was withheld from his winnings: "This was not a tax withheld on behalf of the state. I followed the court proceedings. A lottery was held among the casino players. According to the rules established by the management, 12% of the winnings was withheld. This was done in accordance with the lottery rules."