Among other things, the law does away with previous limits on how many casinos can be given planning permission and how close a casino can be to a town centre and allows for casinos to be built as close as 100 metres from schools.

In addition, the ban on Turkish Cypriots from entering casinos in the north has been downgraded to a civil offence, punishable by up to a €50 fine.

The minimum number of beds required for casinos to operate in hotels has been raised from 500 to 750.

Some have estimated that the relaxed laws will see the number of casinos in the north double, from its current figure of 32 to around 60.

Tempers frayed throughout Monday and the early hours of Tuesday, with many in opposition expressing their disgust at the law, with CTP ‘MP’ Fikri Toros among the first to speak.

“The direct and indirect contributions of casino hotels to our economy are undeniable, but they also bring about serious social problems, such as gambling addictions, and an increase in criminal activities,” he said.

He also expressed his disagreement with the downgrading of the ban on Turkish Cypriots from entering casinos, saying they will now simply “be subject to a small fee”, and that “this is unacceptable”.

“The fact that this ban can be violated with a symbolic penalty of €50 means that the state is encouraging its citizens to turn to gambling,” he said.

Fellow CTP ‘MP’ Salahi Sahiner, meanwhile, took aim at the article which allows casinos to be opened as close to 100 metres from schools.

“Do you want children to become addicted to gambling? You are having casinos opened right next to schools,” he said, while also warning that within the next five years, the number of casinos in the north may rise to 100.

“The main purpose of this law is to plug the gaping hole in the government’s finances with casinos’ income,” he said, before describing the law as a “betrayal to society”.

“The mistake you make today will embarrass you in the eyes of your children. You are knowingly opening the door to gambling addictions, to societal collapse, and to destruction,” he said.

Dogus Derya, also of the CTP, warned that the law will only entrench the north’s status as a hub for money laundering.

“Turkey can be inspected because it is a state within international law, but this is a place outside international law. After offshore banks, are casinos being turned into a laundering ground for dirty money again?” she asked.

“Do we want to be remembered in the world as a place which deals with drugs, human trafficking, and money laundering? Who are the people who are asking you to make these legal arrangements?”

The CTP’s Sami Ozuslu was next, warning that the world “will see the northern Cyprus as a casino paradise”.

“We are surpassing Macau. With this law, you are not only doubling the number of existing casinos but also filling all the coasts with these structures. Forget about taking them out of the cities, you have put them right next to the schools,” he said.

He said that smaller hotels and tourism facilities in the north have been trampled upon by casinos.

“Small hotels in Karpasia, in Karavas, and in Ayios Epiktitos have been either closed or turned into dormitories for the staff of large hotels with casinos. There is neither ecotourism nor agrotourism left. What is the first feeling you get when you land at the airport? You say, ‘we have arrived at casinoland’,” he said.

In response, Ozuslu said that “let us ask 100 people on the street, everyone knows those hotels are casinos”, adding, “there is no need for explicit billboards, everyone knows”.

“We have no land left, no coast left, and now even the military bases are going to be plundered. With this law, our children will not be able to go to the beach … I am ashamed, are you not ashamed?” he said.

“If you are going to make northern Cyprus a brand, this brand cannot be ‘the place where the most jackpots are won, where the most casinos are located’. You have no right to bring this stain upon our society. If this law passes, none of the people who vote it will be able to look this society in the eye.”

Ongun Talat, the son of former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who also belongs to the CTP, spoke next, criticising Amcaoglu’s claim regarding advertisements at the airport.

“He said they were hotel adverts. Yes, they were gambling adverts disguised as hotel advertisements. With this law, you are turning this country into an open-air casino,” he said.

He also took aim at ‘education minister’ Nazim Cavusoglu, saying, “last week, he said he would never allow casinos to be opened near schools. Where is he now?”

“You are committing a very big sin. You are all committing this sin together. Everyone will take responsibility for turning this country into an open-air casino, a paradise for dark money. Enough is enough!”

Following the speeches from the CTP, ‘finance minister’ Ozdemir Berova efended the bill, saying it will “increase the auditability of the public sector, diversify public revenues, and simplify the taxation system”.

He insisted that the advertising of casinos is still prohibited in the north and said that the opposition had made “irrational interpretations” of the law.

He was then subjected to a line of questioning from CTP members regarding anti-money laundering safeguards, and said the ruling coalition is “working closely with” Turkey’s financial crimes investigation board (Masak) to ensure laws are not broken.

He also insisted that “I have not heard of any gambling addiction related to casinos in 30 years”.

The final question came from Dogus Derya, who asked about the push for more casinos in light of the north’s ruling coalition’s relationship with a conservative and religious government in Turkey led by its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“What do Mr Erdogan and other AKP officials say about the expansion of casinos, which is a big sin? Whenever someone from Turkey comes, you go to prayer together and say Alhamdulillah. Can you share with the public what they say about this?” she asked.

Berova refused to answer the question.

The session was then adjourned as ruling coalition ‘MPs’ filed out of the building to attend the launch of Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar’s re-election campaign, before resuming late on Monday night.

Once the session was underway, the opposition’s barrage continued, with the CTP’s Asim Akansoy asking the ruling coalition “who put the pressure on” to persuade them to support the law.

He also accused the ruling coalition of “pouring fuel on the fire” of “prostitution, drugs, and human trafficking”.

The night ended with another intervention from Talat.

“It truly is a shame. Not a single representative has come here and explained why they would say yest to this law. I do not understand how you do it. With this law, hundreds of casinos will be opened in this country. Is this okay?” he asked, before accusing ruling coalition members of laughing during his speech.

“Why are you laughing? Just now, you were at an event speaking of your motherland, of the nation, of the call to prayer. You said that ‘victory is for those who do not stray from the path of Allah’,” he said, before taking aim at backbench UBP ‘MP’ Izlem Gurcag Altugra.

“Where is Izlem? When it comes to voting, she will come and vote in favour of this, and then she will go on television and tell everyone she was against it. Shame on you. Will you on the one hand darken the future of my children and then be offended?”

Ozdemir Berova offered a short reply, telling Talat to “f*ck off”.

The law passed shortly after 3am.