Cyprus MPs review tighter bank data checks for welfare recipients, including casino and betting cross-verification
Cyprus MPs on the House Audit Committee discussed enhancing and automating controls on welfare recipients' bank data, including cross-checks with casinos and betting companies. The focus was on granting the Welfare Benefit Administration Service access to more detailed bank information to better detect potential irregularities. Currently, the Service receives only limited data such as account balances, which restricts effective monitoring.
A new technical solution was proposed to check whether Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI) recipients apply for casino cards, using an ID-based system that protects personal data by returning a simple yes-or-no answer. From mid-2027, mandatory casino card use will further improve player identification. The National Betting Authority reported that 80% of betting now occurs online where self-exclusion platforms could block GMI recipients, though legal frameworks are still needed.
The committee also addressed the need to avoid charging beneficiaries fees for data transfers and emphasized that citizens shouldn’t bear the burden of providing data once authorization is given. Data protection authorities have revised previous opinions, acknowledging a legal basis exists for more detailed data access under strict conditions. The discussions followed Audit Office findings highlighting gaps in data collection and system interoperability, limiting the effectiveness of welfare checks.
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