The north’s ‘economy minister’ Olgun Amcaoglu on Thursday evening promised that “at least 28,000 new jobs” will be created as a result of the decision to relax laws relating to the operation of casinos.
Speaking to Kibris Postasi TV, he said he expects the ruling coalition to grant permits for 32 new casinos to open.
“With these permits, it is expected that at least 28,000 new jobs will be created. Around 40,000 people are currently employed in the tourism sector. There will be a significant increase in this number with the new permits. This situation is a great opportunity for the country’s economy,” he said.
On this matter, he likened the north to Malta and suggested that further efforts be made to expand the north’s service sector.
“In many island countries, like Malta, the service sector is the cornerstone of development. We also need to take steps by taking this model into consideration. Casinos are also a part of this sector,” he said.
The north’s ‘parliament’ had voted in the early hours of Tuesday morning to relax its laws relating to casinos.
Among other things, the law does away with previous limits on how many casinos can be given planning permission and how close a casino can be to a town centre and allows for casinos to be built as close as 100 metres from schools.
In addition, the ban on Turkish Cypriots from entering casinos in the north has been downgraded to a civil offence, punishable by up to a €50 fine.
The minimum number of beds required for casinos to operate in hotels has been raised from 500 to 750.
Tempers frayed throughout Monday and the early hours of Tuesday, with many in opposition expressing their disgust at the law.
Opposition party CTP ‘MP’ Fikri Toros, for example, said that while the economic contribution to the north’s economy made by casinos is “undeniable”, they also “bring about serious social problems, such as gambling addictions, and an increase in criminal activities”.
He also expressed his disagreement with the downgrading of the ban on Turkish Cypriots from entering casinos, saying they will now simply “be subject to a small fee”, and that “this is unacceptable”.
“The fact that this ban can be violated with a symbolic penalty of €50 means that the state is encouraging its citizens to turn to gambling,” he said.
Dogus Derya, also of the CTP, warned that the law will only entrench the north’s status as a hub for money laundering.
“Turkey can be inspected because it is a state within international law, but this is a place outside international law. After offshore banks, are casinos being turned into a laundering ground for dirty money again?” she asked.
“Do we want to be remembered in the world as a place which deals with drugs, human trafficking, and money laundering? Who are the people who are asking you to make these legal arrangements?”
The CTP’s Salahi Sahiner, meanwhile, took aim at the article which allows casinos to be opened as close to 100 metres from schools.
“Do you want children to become addicted to gambling? You are having casinos opened right next to schools,” he said.
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