Nicosia, Cyprus. The Cyprus Gaming and Casino Supervision Commission said torture reported in Pyla did not take place in a legal casino but in establishments operating illegally. Police have intensified investigations into an organised criminal syndicate after videos showed the torture of at least seven people.
Commission statement on Pyla footage
The commission said the establishment shown in the footage “has nothing to do with the licensed casino-resort, nor with any of its satellite installations”.
It added that, based on evidence available so far through public information, the incidents appear to have occurred in establishments operating illegally as casinos, outside the institutional and regulatory framework.
The commission said the licensed casino-resort operates under strict supervision and compliance obligations, including procedures related to security, public order and player protection.
Police investigation and seized material
Police said on Monday that investigations had intensified after videos were uncovered showing the torture of at least seven people inside a casino in Pyla.
The footage, described in court as “shocking and degrading”, was found on two mobile phones belonging to a 48-year-old who is already on remand over a violent brawl and shooting outside Larnaca police headquarters on January 17.
Police said the videos were recorded on multiple dates during 2025 and show victims being held against their will inside what investigators referred to in court as an “office from hell” on the first floor of the casino.
Officers are examining more than 3,000 photos and videos seized from suspects’ phones, with police saying the scale of the material points to sustained and systematic abuse.
What steps do you think regulators and police should take to address illegal casino operations?