Coin machine operators in Cyprus are struggling against Europe's strongest restrictions and desperately need some form of payout machine – or even ticket redemption games, which are currently banned, says George Dracos, head of operating company Fighters Games.
“Nothing is allowed here,” said George, “apart from the most basic amusement devices such as video and pinball. We cannot have ticket games of any kind, cranes or the most innocent of prize games. We can have simple venders, with capsules, but nothing with any game attached.
“Operators are struggling to even pay their staff and the industry is going to simply die out unless someone does something. An initiative by the European trade associations to demonstrate to our government that low-level prizes are harmless, family fun would help immensely.
“Ideally, we need AWP machines, perhaps with a 20-cent or 50-cent stake, so that it is carefully controlled. The few arcades which are still in existence and especially the pubs, which have no games at all, would offer a service to their customers.”
