There are 20,000 and 25,000 gambling addicts in north Cyprus: Prof. Dr. Mehmet Çakıcı warns

Lefkoşa, North Cyprus — Renowned psychiatrist and director of Pembe Köşk Psychiatric Hospital, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Çakıcı, has issued a stark warning about the growing gambling addiction crisis in Northern Cyprus, estimating that between 20,000 and 25,000 people in the country are struggling with the disorder. 

Speaking on Kıbrıs Postası TV’s morning program Sabah Postası, hosted by Canan Onurer, Prof. Dr. Çakıcı criticized the government’s lack of a comprehensive policy to combat the issue.

“Casinos are full of Turkish Cypriots despite entry ban”

Commenting on the recent passage of the Amended Games of Chance Bill in the Republic Assembly, Çakıcı said the government's approach is misguided. While Turkish Cypriots are technically banned from entering casinos, Çakıcı claims this law is not being enforced, with local citizens making up a large portion of casino revenue.

“Despite the official ban, the reality is that casinos are full of Turkish Cypriots,” Çakıcı stated. “Gambling addiction is one of the country’s most severe psychiatric diseases—akin to a psychological cancer—and yet no national policy exists to address it.”

“A single death due to gambling addiction is a political failure”

Highlighting the urgent need for preventive measures, Çakıcı stressed the state’s responsibility in tackling the issue. “Refusing to acknowledge the problem won’t make it go away. We must invest in both prevention and treatment,” he urged. “The goal shouldn’t be maximizing revenue from gambling. If even one person dies because of this addiction, politics bears the blame.”

Research shows rising addiction rates

Çakıcı referenced several studies conducted between 2007 and 2018 to illustrate the scale of the crisis. A 2007 study of 1,000 participants found a 2.2% rate of pathological gambling, already among the highest globally at the time. That figure steadily climbed in follow-up studies: 3.4% in 2012, 3.8% in 2014, and 4.6% by 2018.

“These numbers place Northern Cyprus far above the pathological gambling rates in Europe (1%), the U.S., and New Zealand (1.5%),” Çakıcı noted. “Even in countries where gambling addiction is considered widespread, the rate rarely exceeds 2%.”

“The state has no treatment or prevention policy”

The psychiatrist criticized the government’s failure to establish addiction treatment centers or create a national prevention strategy. He also criticized the use of the term "games of chance", suggesting it whitewashes the severity of gambling. “We use 10 diagnostic criteria to identify gambling addiction. If someone fits just two of these, they meet the threshold for pathological gambling,” he said.

Five factors driving the addiction epidemic

According to Çakıcı, the primary reasons behind the spike in gambling addiction in Northern Cyprus include:

1. Lack of education and preventive programs

2. Vague bans that inadvertently encourage gambling

3. Free food and drinks offered in casinos

4. The unchecked spread of casinos across the island

5. Insufficient adaptation and intervention systems

“People are contemplating suicide due to gambling debt”

Highlighting the severe consequences of unchecked gambling, Çakıcı shared that his hospital has received cases where individuals contemplated suicide due to gambling-related debt. “The psychological impact is devastating,” he said. “Without serious reforms, we will see this crisis continue to worsen.”

“An estimated 80,000 people are affected”

Kıbrıs ranks among the top four regions in the world for gambling addiction prevalence, Çakıcı stated. With a problem gambling rate of approximately 10%, he estimates that at least 80,000 people in the country have been directly or indirectly affected by gambling.

Prof. Dr. Çakıcı concluded by urging policymakers to act swiftly: “This is not just a public health issue—it’s a societal emergency.”