North Cyprus Proposes Landmark Bill to Allow Turkish Cypriots into Casinos

Currently, only foreign passport holders are allowed to gamble in North Cyprus, making this bill a significant shift in longstanding policy.

The proposed amendments, revealed by opposition MP Salahi Sahiner of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), would allow entry to Turkish Cypriots who hold a specific TRNC identity card. In addition to lifting this ban, the bill introduces several sweeping changes to the casino industry across the region. One major change would allow hotels with a minimum of 1,000 beds to automatically qualify for casino licenses — a move expected to benefit large-scale hospitality businesses. Furthermore, the current limit of five casino licenses per company would be abolished, opening the door to potentially unlimited expansion by dominant operators.

Another contentious element of the bill would relax existing zoning restrictions by permitting casinos to be constructed near schools and within city and town centers — a practice currently prohibited under North Cyprus law.

These proposed changes have drawn strong criticism from opposition figures. Sahiner was vocal in his condemnation, warning that the bill prioritizes casino interests over the welfare of the public. “The government is on the verge of making one of the biggest mistakes in history,” he stated. “At a time when public finances are so dire that we can't even buy a needle without borrowing, and societal tensions are extremely high, the government is choosing to serve the casino industry rather than its people.”

This latest proposal follows a string of gambling-related legislative shifts in North Cyprus. Last April, authorities halved casino tax rates as part of a wider tax reform. Then in December, a betting levy aimed at supporting local football clubs was passed by parliament — a move that also attracted controversy, with critics arguing it incentivizes financial mismanagement within sports organizations.

If passed, the current bill would mark a significant departure from North Cyprus' previous approach to gambling regulation and is likely to fuel further public and political debate. Proponents argue it will bolster tourism and economic activity, while detractors warn of social and financial consequences that could follow in its wake.