Amusement operators in the free southern area of Cyprus are making an impassioned plea to their government to permit AWPs, to prevent the industry sinking into oblivion and to help boost the local economy.
To move this forward a deputation of five Cypriot operators are to approach the Parliamentary Committee to put forward their case for AWPs to be permitted for play by the over-18s.
Since amusement machines were taken out of the gambling law in 1978 there has been a ban on AWPs and the main form of amusement in pubs and bars is pool tables.
In the past few years the life’s blood has been drained out of the amusement industry, mainly due to the emergence of competition from online gaming which is allowed to take place in over 1,000 small “casinos” throughout the island. The fact that coin-operated video consoles are allowed in bars and cafes has also eroded the business.
But with 600 pubs in Pathos, 500 in Limassol, 1,000 in Agia Napa and 600 in Nicosia the Cyprus operators believe the reinstatement of regulated AWPs would stimulate economic growth on the island in terms of local licence fees and jobs.
With over two million visitors to Cyprus each year the industry believes it would provide a massive boost to the economy if a small number of AWPs with cash in, cash out, say two per location, were permitted in pubs, bars and arcades. The operators have said this could be regulated in line with other European countries, for example, the UK, Germany or Spain.
Said much respected operator George Dracos of Fighters Games, Limassol, who has been in the industry for 40 years: “Operators in Cyprus have thousands of amusement machines in warehouses. They can’t afford to open up arcades because rents are so high and the income is so low. We desperately need to grow our income or a whole industry will disappear. At the moment we are laying off employees as we cannot afford to pay them and we cannot pay our dues to the Chamber of Commerce.”
He added: “It is heartbreaking to walk around the harbour in, for example, Pathos and see no amusement arcades along the harbour front for the tourists. The only arcades you see are in the luna parks.”
The operators are now banding together to reform their trade association and putting together a plan for submission to parliament.
“We have to act now before it is too late. Visitors to Cyprus are crying out for entertainment and a strong, regulated amusement business would provide this,” Dracos said.
To join the new amusement association, apply to George Dracos, Fighters Games +357 99661160. Email: [email protected]
