Cyprus Gambling and CasinosCyprus gambling is a surprisingly popular past time on the island for both locals and tourists. Many visitors are shy about asking the question “Can I gamble in Cyprus? The answer can also be somewhat confusing, but the truth is – it depends on what type of gambling and where. All types of gambling is available in North Cyprus, whereas some gambling is restricted in the south. Sports Betting in CyprusSports’ betting is legal and horse racing in Cyprus is a sport that goes back to ancient times. In fact, the racecourse in Nicosia was once described by London magazine ‘The Sporting Life’ as the most picturesque in the world! Races take place on Wednesdays the whole year round, as well as Saturdays in summer and Sundays in winter.This is a great way to spend a relaxing evening in Cyprus, and you can contact the Nicosia Race Club on (+357) 22 782 727 for more details. For those of you who would like a bigger stake in the action, foreign ownership of the race horses is also actively encouraged. Card Games in CyprusPoker has taken time to grow in popularity in Cyprus but younger Cypriots are starting to enjoy it more and more. Poker in Cyprus is generally played in the Texas Hold ‘Em style.Most casinos in North Cyprus will hold poker tables and tend to be quite cheap to play on in comparison with the rest of Europe. A few Cypriots (Phidias Georgiou, Argyris Argyrou and Charalambous “Bambos”) have also had success during international poker tournaments, namely the European Poker Tour and the European Poker Masters respectively. Several other card games are better known and are often played at home with the family. You can also see them being played in cafes around the island. These games don’t usually count as Cyprus gambling as they are more about entertainment than money but I will put them here anyway. In the south, the Greek version of rum known as Koumkan is played. The Cyprus dialect pronounces the game as konkan or konka (with the emphasis on the a) and if you say is any other way people may not understand you. The aim is to get rid of all the cards in your hand by making two combinations of cards which can either be a group, eg all sixes or a run in the same suit. The number of cards you are dealt depends on how many people are playing. The first person to get rid of their cards wins, and then the game will continue to determine second and third places etc until the last person is out of cards. A version of hearts is also played, where the object is to get rid of your heart cards and the queen of spades. Another trick taking game is pilotta, which is a game based on the French game belote and is almost exclusively played in Cyprus, although other countries may have their own versions and rules. There are lots of ways to earn points and the first to get 351 points wins. This game is especially popular with younger Cypriots. Older Cypriots, as I have observed from my grandparents on both sides of the border, like to amuse themselves playing a solo game of solitaire. Cyprus CasinosIf you are staying in South Cyprus please note that you will not find casinos here, although some hotels may occasionally run themed casino nights. There is also a casino cruise ship which leaves from Limassol (The Louis Cruises).If you want a land based casino though, there are around 20 in North Cyprus which have become increasingly popular since gambling was outlawed in mainland Turkey in 1997. North Cyprus casinos offer well known games such as Roulette, Blackjack, Craps and Poker and slot machines. Some of the most well known include Club Acapulco, Kyrenia (open 2pm -6pm daily) and Jasmine Casino, Kyrenia (open 27/7) which the largest casino in Cyprus. Others include Casino Merit crystal Cove and the Grand Rock casino, both located in Kyrenia. Kyrenia has the largest concentration of casinos, but you will a few in Famagusta and north Nicosia which are worth visiting. Other Types of Cyprus GamblingLocals also play the Cyprus Lottery which began in 1958 and there are many Cyprus gambling websites, which have been under tight regulations in recent years.Unfortunately Cyprus doesn't participate in the Euromillions lottery draw and although you can't by a valid ticket whilst on the island, you can still check the numbers. If you usually play Euromillions when not in Cyprus, you might want to read
Win Euromillions
a guide to winning the EuroMillions Lottery and all the other lotteries around the world. Good luck!
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