Newsroom
Government officials are considering new restrictions to prevent people receiving the Minimum Guaranteed Income from using welfare payments at casinos, betting shops, or gambling websites.
Among the proposals is a special payment card that would allow the benefit to be spent only on basic needs. The card would resemble an ordinary bank card and carry no markings identifying its holder as a welfare recipient, but cash withdrawals and gambling transactions could be blocked.
The idea was discussed Thursday by the House Audit Committee, which is examining whether public money intended for food, housing, and other essentials is instead being lost through gambling.
The National Gaming and Casino Supervision Authority said it recorded increases in casino turnover around the middle of each month in early 2023, raising suspicions that the rise may coincide with welfare payments.
However, the timing alone does not prove that Minimum Guaranteed Income recipients were responsible for the increased gambling.
Authorities are also considering a system that would check whether someone receives the benefit before issuing them a casino player card. With the player’s authorization, the casino authority would compare their identity number with a list of recipients.
A similar proposal would expand Cyprus’ online self-exclusion platform to include people receiving Minimum Guaranteed Income. The National Betting Authority said the technology is ready, but the change would require new legislation.
Protecting benefits or punishing recipients?
The proposals raise a difficult question: Should the state be allowed to decide how someone spends welfare money, or would automatic restrictions unfairly treat every recipient as a potential gambler?
AKEL MP Nikos Kettiros warned that a separate card could stigmatize recipients. Personal Data Protection Commissioner Maria Christofidou said it would look identical to a normal bank card.
There are also legal and privacy obstacles. Current casino legislation does not explicitly classify Minimum Guaranteed Income recipients as a vulnerable group, meaning the law may need to be amended before welfare and gambling authorities can exchange information.
DISY MP Giorgos Pamborides also cautioned that restrictions could be circumvented, while betting officials warned that blocking legal gambling might push some people toward illegal operators.
Disability representatives raised a further concern: restricting a card may stop a transaction, but it does not provide treatment to someone struggling with gambling, substance abuse, or mental illness.
