Police Raids in Cyprus Against Online Casino Gambling

Recently, the politicians in Cyprus have been discussing plans for new legislation aimed at banning online casino gambling on the island. It was during this very period of time that police conducted a raid of three separate sites in Larnaca, Cyprus just last week. These raids were intended as anti-vice and drug and by the end of the operation, the police had confiscated substantial sums of money, computer equipment, deactivated firearms as well as title deeds.

Even more that this, an owner of one of these venues was taken into arrest to be held for continued questioning. He was later charged and then released.

These raids should have been expected according to Justice Minister Loucas Louca since only a few months prior, the operators were actually warned by the police. "And they will continue in order to deal with this problem." Louca added that, ""We hope that parliament finally passes the relevant bill so as to offer the police further ammunition to radically deal with this phenomenon, which has turned into a social problem."

Despite the success of the police operation, the effect is thought to be limited as explained by police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos. He stated that even though certain pieces of technology were taken away, it is simply a matter of replacing them and finding a new location from which to continue their operations.

It can be discouraging to attempt this kind of operation only to have its success be limited, nonetheless the spokesman said that, "We have a legal and a moral obligation to protect and safeguard individuals, families and the wider Cypriot society at large from the consequences of gambling addiction."