Filenews 26 October 2025
Six specialized programs aimed at therapy for gambling in all districts, as well as a specialized telephone line (1422), are currently operating in the therapeutic network of the Cyprus Addictions Authority (AAEK).
This was reported to Filenews by the Executive Director of the Cyprus Addictions Authority, Constantinos Stylianou, when asked to comment on the upcoming change in legislation, with which the Authority will expand its areas of competence with addiction to electronic games and the internet.
Mr. Stylianou noted that with the renaming of the Cyprus Anti-Drug Council (ASK) to the Cyprus Addictions Authority in 2017, smoking and pathological gambling were included in the Organization's responsibilities in the existing ones (illegal substances and alcohol). Now, a bill proposes an amendment that concerns the addition of addiction to electronic games and the internet. In addition, with the same bill, the number of members of the Board of Directors is increased from seven (in addition to the President and Vice-President) to nine.
Especially for gambling, the program of the Multiple Intervention Center (Nicosia), the program for minors at PERSEA (Nicosia), the program also for minors at PROMETHEUS (Limassol) which are operated by the Mental Health Services of OKYPY have been operating for many years. In addition, following announcements by the Authority, the program FAROS (Limassol), Motivation (Famagusta) and Motivation (Paphos) by Non-Governmental Organizations and with funding from AAEK, the National Betting Authority and the Gaming and Casino Supervision Authority are operating.
In addition, according to Mr. Stylianou, three other existing Addiction Treatment Programs offer specialized counselling services for pathological gambling (Larnaca, Limassol and Nicosia).
In conclusion, the executive director of the Authority stated that a hard effort has been made by a number of professionals in the field of addictions in recent years to deal with the problem. "The inclusion of addiction in electronic games and the internet will respond to an emerging need of society and will give AAEK the opportunity to organize programs and interventions in this area as well," he noted.
