CYPRUS EXPLORES OPTIONS TO BAN WELFARE RECIPIENTS FROM GAMBLING
Highlights
- Cyprus lawmakers and regulators are considering measures to prevent Guaranteed Minimum Income recipients from using welfare payments for gambling.
- Authorities are examining banking information, special identification and online self-exclusion as possible ways to restrict gambling activity.
Cyprus lawmakers and gambling regulators are exploring measures to prevent recipients of the country’s Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI) from using their welfare payments for gambling. The discussions are focused on protecting vulnerable households and ensuring that state benefits are used for essential needs rather than gambling activities.
The issue was discussed during a meeting of the House Audit Committee, attended by representatives from the Welfare Benefits Administration Service, Gaming and Casino Supervision Commission, National Betting Authority and the Data Protection Commissioner.
The Gaming and Casino Supervision Commission said it had noticed increases in gambling activity around the dates when GMI payments are made. This has encouraged officials to explore a technical solution that could cross-reference GMI beneficiary information with casino membership records.
However, accessing banking information presents several legal and privacy challenges. Officials noted that the available banking data may indicate suspicious activity but cannot always confirm whether a specific transaction was related to gambling.
Cyprus already operates an online self-exclusion system that requires users to provide identification information. With approximately 80% of gambling activity taking place online, regulators believe this could offer a more practical way to identify and exclude GMI recipients from gambling platforms.
The proposals remain under discussion as Cyprus considers how to strengthen responsible gambling protections without creating unnecessary privacy risks or discrimination against welfare recipients.
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