Cyprus will issue its first license in 2015

In this news article we have already announced that the Cypriot government is considering legalising casinos in their country.
On Thursday, May 8, they confirmed that the first licence is to be issued in the year 2015.
It will be published after their tender procedure, eight months after the law has been adopted, which will happen in late May this year.
The law has now been completed, and is ready to be submitted to the Parliament.
The first licence should be issued around March or April 2015.
The island of Cyprus already has several casinos, but they are all in the northern part, which is under control of the Turkish authorities.
The independent southern part has not yet legalised such establishments, especially because of the opposition of the Greek Orthodox Church.
The previous government refused to consider the legalisation of casinos.
However, the new government, that came into power last year, estimated that the project could boost the disastrous economy.
The government instructed the Cypriot Tourism Organisation to conduct a study on the impact of opening casinos in the country.
They estimated annual revenues of 35-50 million euros for the state, and a major boost for tourism and employment.
These results have convinced president Nicos Anastadsiades that the project should be realised next year, and the first licence will be issued then.