Filenews 19 March 2025 - by Fanis Makrides
At least 16 cases of persons gambling money in casinos in the Republic of Cyprus during the years 2023 and 2024 were forwarded to the Cyprus Police by the Anti-Cover-Up Offences Unit.
This results from a confidential note by the Unit itself on the cases it handled following reports from the casino operator itself. Its content is known to Filenews.
Of these 16 cases (8 in 2023 and an equal number in 2024), one was investigated by the police. In fact, measures were taken against the person checked by the competent authorities of the Republic, without specifying whether criminal charges were brought.
Two other cases are being investigated by the Cyprus Police, as there are reasonable suspicions of criminal offences.
Three other reports of suspicious players of casinos operating in the Republic have been exploited by the Police in the context of cases that are already being investigated.
As for the remaining 10 reports out of a total of 16, they were used by the police force for wanted persons for criminal offenses under investigation, such as illegal immigration.
In total, the operator of the casinos (Intergrated Casino Resorts Cyprus Ltd) has made 182 reports to the Anti-Cover-Up Unit about gamblers who aroused suspicion during due diligence checks. In 2023, 101 petitions were made and the remaining 81 during 2024.
In 2023, 34 out of 101 reports were cash, while the corresponding number for 2024 is 10 (out of 81).
The amounts reported in the previous two years (20230 and 2024) are €260.171 and €219.896, respectively. We are talking about a total amount of around half a million euros.
MOKAS, in its confidential note, also includes information on the countries from which the players originate, which aroused the suspicions of the supervisors of the casino operator in Cyprus.
Where do they come from?
The 34 reports, made in 2023 and including the use of cash, concerned persons from Cyprus, Israel, Greece, Syria, Vietnam, China, Georgia, Poland, Korea and the United Kingdom.
In terms of the corresponding number for 2024, the 10 reports were related to players from Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Vietnam, Lebanon and Turkey. What is surprising is that MOKAS confidential correspondence includes a reference to a person or persons from Turkey (the number is not specified).
