Cyprus Poker: How the Island Became an International Poker Destination

A few years ago, Cyprus barely registered on the European poker map. Today, major international series like the WSOP Circuit and the World Poker Tour bring their brands to the island; elite professionals fly in for headline events and extended stays; and, alongside its luxury resorts, Cyprus increasingly hosts tournaments with multi-million-dollar guaranteed prize pools.

The question is no longer whether you can find high-quality live poker in Cyprus. It’s how – and why – a Mediterranean island became one of the most interesting destinations in the international poker scene.

Cyprus Poker Scene: North Cyprus, the Republic of Cyprus (South), and Two Regulatory Models

The rise of Cyprus as a poker destination didn’t happen overnight. Years of shifts in tourism, economics, and regulation built an environment where luxury hospitality and professional poker could finally meet.

Two very different regulatory environments shaped how gambling and poker grew on the island.

• North Cyprus built a strong presence around casino and poker tourism long ago.
• The Republic of Cyprus (South) opened up to the gambling industry much later.

The result is a rare contrast. On the same island, a luxury model built around major international poker festivals grew up alongside a premium casino tourism sector operating inside an EU-regulated environment.

Merit Poker and the “Complete Experience” Model

One of the key players in the North Cyprus poker scene is Merit Poker, which began operations in 2008. The company built a model that became one of the region’s biggest draws: you don’t just travel to a tournament, you travel for a complete experience.

The concept blends luxury hotels, a seaside setting, high-end service, and extended poker festivals. That mix helped establish Cyprus as a Mediterranean poker destination – and it’s especially attractive if you don’t see a poker trip as a quick tournament stop, but as a place where the overall quality of your stay matters.

In today’s professional poker world, that’s a bigger factor than ever. A serious destination has to offer strong fields and attractive prize pools, but also a comfortable base for longer stays.

Merit Poker and the Growth of North Cyprus as a Poker Destination

Turkey’s gambling policy played a major role in the North Cyprus casino boom. Casinos have been banned in Turkey since 1998, which created strong demand for nearby destinations just across the water.

North Cyprus built its casino industry around that demand, developing luxury complexes aimed mainly at international visitors. That’s the environment in which poker later became a natural part of the region’s tourism offering.

The Mediterranean Poker Party (MPP)

The Mediterranean Poker Party (MPP), organized by Merit Poker at Merit Hotel Casino, has become one of the most recognized poker festivals in Cyprus. A big reason for its success is the way it pairs traditional tournament poker with a premium resort experience.

You don’t simply show up for a tournament. You arrive at a destination where the hotel, the service, and the surroundings all become part of the experience.

The festival has pulled in players who regularly compete in the biggest events on the planet. 2022 WSOP Main Event champion Espen Jorstad has visited Cyprus, and he’s pointed out that the island’s appeal goes well beyond the felt – fitness facilities, wellness options, restaurants, and the overall environment all add to it.

WSOP Circuit, WPT Cyprus, and the Rise of Major Poker Events in Cyprus

After the success of Merit Poker and the MPP, Cyprus started drawing serious attention from the biggest names in the international poker industry.

A major milestone landed in 2025, when the World Series of Poker brought its first official WSOP Super Circuit event to the island, hosted at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel & Casino in North Cyprus. The event featured 18 official WSOP Circuit Gold Ring tournaments – the first time the WSOP Circuit brand had ever visited Cyprus.

The Merit venue had already proven it could host major international events. Premium series like Triton Poker , plus recurring large-scale festivals, helped build the region’s reputation and pull in players from the high-stakes world.

WPT Cyprus and WPT Prime Cyprus 2026

The World Poker Tour has ramped up its presence, too. In 2026, the tour returns to the Chamada Prestige Hotel & Casino for two separate festivals.

The arrival of these major international series shows that Cyprus is no longer just an alternative destination. It’s an established stop on the live poker calendar, with Cyprus poker tournaments now a regular part of the international schedule.

Planning a trip? See our full live poker tournament calendar and our guide to the WPT Cyprus Championship 2026 for dates, buy-ins, and structures.

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City of Dreams Mediterranean: Casino Tourism in the Republic of Cyprus (South)

While North Cyprus built its strategy around casino and poker tourism, the Republic of Cyprus (South) took a more cautious path toward the gambling industry for years.

Then economic pressure and the push to grow tourism changed the direction. One of the biggest results was City of Dreams Mediterranean, developed by Melco Resorts & Entertainment in Limassol.

The complex isn’t just a casino. It follows the integrated resort model – a hotel, restaurants, entertainment, and business facilities all in one place.

The poker scene in the South doesn’t yet play the same role as the major international tournament destinations in the North. But City of Dreams Mediterranean has strengthened the island’s position in the premium tourism market, and the two sides have together shaped the unique place Cyprus holds today.

Evagoras Evagorou Makes History at the WSOP Main Event

Another turning point in Cyprus’ poker story wasn’t a new tournament series – it was one player’s run. At the 2026 World Series of Poker Main Event, Evagoras Evagorou made history as the first player from Cyprus to reach the final table of the $10,000 championship event.

What makes it even more remarkable: this was his first time ever playing the $10,000 championship. After navigating one of the largest fields in poker history, he won $1 million finishing ninth.

His run proved Cyprus’ poker story isn’t only about visiting pros and luxury festivals. The island’s own player base is making its mark, with local players increasingly showing up on the biggest stages in the game.

Cyprus Gaming Industry: The Connection Between Poker, Technology, and iGaming

Cyprus’ rise hasn’t been driven by casinos alone. Over the past decade, the island has become an attractive base for international technology, gaming, and iGaming companies. A friendly business environment, access to the European market, and a growing international workforce have turned Cyprus into a regional hub for digital industries.

One of the best-known examples is Wargaming, the global developer behind World of Tanks and World of Warships, which set up its headquarters in Nicosia. The island has also drawn companies from the wider tech ecosystem, including 3CX, a global communications software provider with operations tied to Cyprus.

These companies point to a broader trend: Cyprus is now a destination for technology-driven businesses, not just tourism and financial services.

That matters for poker, because the gaming and poker communities overlap in obvious ways. Both lean heavily on technology, international communities, and digitally connected users. The link is strongest in the iGaming sector, where Cyprus has attracted companies working in online gaming, software development, and digital entertainment – creating an ecosystem where technology, gaming, and competitive entertainment increasingly meet.

Limassol in particular has grown into an important international business hub, drawing tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and companies from across Europe and beyond. That growing community fits naturally with industries built around digital entertainment, gaming, and online competition.

The open question is what role Cyprus can play in the broader online gaming and digital entertainment landscape. Its live casino and poker infrastructure has already grown fast, and its blend of tourism, technology, and international business could open even more opportunities in the years ahead.