State moves to suspend gambling licences linked to organised crime

Justice Minister Costas Fitiris said on Thursday that the suspension of operating licences held by businesses linked to criminal activity was “a key tool” in the state’s response to organised crime.

He was commenting on the non-renewal of BookieCo’s betting licence, owned by prominent Larnaca businessman, Lazaros Phillipou.

Speaking on Alpha television, Fitiris said he was not aware of the specific reasoning behind the national betting authority’s decision not to renew BookieCo’s licence...