Newspaper scratch cards are illegal, authorities warn

NEWSPAPERS offering their readers free lottery scratch-cards could find themselves in hot water.

According to the state lottery director, Andreas Himarides, the issuing of such cards by private enterprises is illegal.

A number of dailies have offered such scratch-cards in recent months. Scratch-cards have even been included as free gifts in packets of crisps.

Himarides said a complaint about these freebies had been lodged with the Attorney-general’s office. He suggested prosecution would follow.

The state lottery director also warned that an illegal German lottery ticket was currently being circulated.

Himarides cautioned that people buying such illegal tickets were more than likely to get their fingers burnt.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.