LIMASSOL police are investigating a series of arson attacks against agents of gaming company OPAP, which could be linked with a bill regulating gambling currently being discussed in parliament.
The latest attack took place at 4.20am, causing extensive damage to the establishment on the corner of Gladstone and Christodoulos Karydis Streets.
It was the third arson of an OPAP agent – there was also a failed attempt – inside a week.
“The manner of operation looks to be the same and that is why we are looking for certain individuals,” said Limassol CID chief Yiannis Georgiou.
OPAP Cyprus general director Michalis Himonas told the Cyprus Mail that his outfit wants the state to provide protection.
He said he had warned authorities that OPAP was being targeted after the first two arsons.
Himonas said OPAP has been operating in Cyprus since 1969 with not a single problem and now in one week there have been three arsons and one attempted arson against their agents.
“This is saddening and it worries us a lot,” he said, adding that it was unacceptable for a country that was assuming the EU presidency next month.
OPAP is a private Greek gaming company in which the Greek state is a shareholder.
It started its operation on the island following a bilateral agreement in 1969, which was renewed in 2003.
Asked if the motive could be the gambling bill, which some suggested favoured OPAP, Himonas said he had nothing concrete on that.
“The bill concerns state and illegal betting facilities,” he said. “There is no reason to target OPAP.”
The chairman of the House Legal Affairs Committee was not immediately available for comment.
Last year, lawmakers said OPAP was be excluded from the bill that among other things bans online gambling.
OPAP offers games of chance such as Lotto, Proto, Joker and Kino and football betting.
Attorney-general Petros Clerides said last year the OPAP games were completely different, as they operate under an inter-state agreement – between Cyprus and Greece -- and are not played by the player directly over the internet.
Under the agreement, most of OPAP’s Cyprus revenues remain on the island through winnings, taxes, sponsorships and commissions.
DIKO vice-chairman Nicolas Papadopoulos charged at the time that approval of the bill would effectively make OPAP a monopoly
Members of the committee had been handed a letter signed by eight companies offering online casino games, alleging that the bill favoured OPAP.
“The unfavourable provisions of the bill concern the ban on Cypriot companies, except OPAP, to freely provide online games of chance, even if they have secured a legal permit from an EU member-state,” the letter said.