Cyprus Arrests Unlicensed Israeli Online Casino Operators
Cypriot authorities arrested five suspects for operating an illegal online sports betting operation from the island. While Cyprus permits online casinos to base there, regulatory and licensing requirements must be met,The five men, all Israelis, were operating out of the small town of Oroklinbi, near Larnaca. Computers and cash were seized in the raid of an apartment, evidence of sports gambling.
Police also found eight satellite dishes which had been illegally connected, allowing extensive online gaming operations without receiving oversight by Cyprus regulators.
Israeli officials admitted five Israeli nationals had been detained in Cyprus, but said the country would not become involved unless the suspects contacted the Foreign Ministry.
Efforts by the suspects to hide the illegal online casino activity came too late, as law enforcement had already detected the operation.
"The moment the suspects realized that the police were on to them, they tried to hide evidence, they cut the pirate connections and put and end to their activity," a police spokesman told Ynet.
Unregulated online gaming not only avoids Cyprus fees and taxes, but raises consumer dangers, such as fraud and identity theft.
