BINGO players in Paphos are cursing their bad luck following a clampdown by police, who are confiscating equipment and handing out fines.
Paphos police spokesman Nicos Tsapis told the Sunday Mail that police are no longer ‘turning a blind eye’ and are clamping down on venues which are offering bingo, and are either failing to follow the relevant regulations, or are not in possession of the necessary licences.
“We are carrying out police checks at venues which we suspect or have been informed may be carrying out bingo events. Depending on what we discover, if they are offering this game without the correct permission, we may take related equipment and they may be fined,” he warned.
Tsapis said that the operations are part of a wider attempt to make Paphos ‘more legal’.
Bingo has long been a popular pastime for British expats living in Paphos, but has also become increasingly popular among Cypriots, according to Paphos resident, Tony Theo, the vice president of the Cyprus Poker Association.
He said that although it had ‘always been illegal’ to hold bingo games without a licence, the police had been willing to turn a blind eye until recently.
“This is one of Cyprus’ oddities; bingo is classed as a game of chance (where no skill is involved) and in Cyprus these are regarded as illegal. To generate an income, such as bingo in a bar, is illegal. However, if the bingo is affiliated directly to a charity or sporting club for example, it is permitted as long as the relevant licence has been granted,” he said.
According to the CPA vice chairman, a large bingo hall in Paphos was able to operate legally because it was linked to Yeroskipou football club. “They said that the proceeds from the games went to the football club and this is allowed,” he said.
He advised that if people want to organise a bingo event, their legal representatives should contact either the ministry of the interior and/or the attorney-general to get approval.
“That’s what we had to do for a no money poker event we held at the end of 2013. Running a bingo event without a letter of authority will get you into trouble,” he said.
Theo added those pubs in Paphos that hold weekly bingo events for their customers will probably have to stop because of the crackdown.
Paphos resident, Adrienne Angel, and her husband Graham have run a bingo night at the UKCA – the United Kingdom Citizens’ Association – a private members club in Paphos, for the last decade, and it had been operating for a further two years previous to that.
“This is a popular night of fun and entertainment for our members and as we had heard that police were taking away furniture and equipment from other venues, we decided to cease our event from last week,” she said.
Angel said that police were also raiding events in other towns and that the club was trying to find out what they had to do to restart their bingo sessions.
“Practically every hotel offers bingo and so do many pubs and other venues. This will have a massive knock on effect on tourism. We usually get around 30 to 40 players at our events. They will just go elsewhere and not come back,” she said.
The police said that according to the current law in Cyprus, ‘betting’ on sporting or other events is strictly regulated. Using any ‘game machines’ is strictly prohibited. This includes bingo, poker, horseracing, and slot machines.
Betting services may be provided only by licensed persons or their authorised representatives.
The law prohibits ‘games of chance’ and makes it an offence to even advertise such activities, punishable by imprisonment of up to a year, and /or a fine of up to €50,000.
