A CYPRIOT GAME
THE POPULAR PINBALL-TYPE GAME THAT IS ALSO KNOWN AS 'STREET ROULETTE'
Kazanti, is a traditional game rooted in Cypriot culture and the popular engaging pinball-type lottery game often captures the spirit of community and celebration at most street festivals and public gatherings on the island. The game needs a blend of skill and some basic strategy, but luck mostly plays a huge part in the activity that has often been referred to as a type of street roulette. The popular game does not offer cash prizes like roulette but instead offers participants winning prizes that are usually on display on the side of a van. It could be said that in a world increasingly dominated by digital entertainment, the tactile, face-to-face interactions provided by the game help to foster a sense of community and togetherness. Moreover, the revival of interest in folk traditions has ensured that interest in the game has remained prominent on the island.
Though the exact date of the inception of the game remains unclear, references to similar games can be found in several ancient texts, implicating a longstanding tradition of competitive play among the island’s inhabitants. The game likely evolved from simpler forms of folk games often played by rural communities, which were later adapted to accompany urban street festivals, where the concept of public entertainment became increasingly popular over the years. Today, public gatherings and festivals where kazanti is played help to promote social cohesion, allowing communities to come together to celebrate shared experiences, values, and history, whilst having fun.
The rules of the game are simplistic, so the game appeals to people of all ages and is typically played in an outdoor setting. A specially modified van or small truck is usually used to set one up and a permit is required to operate one. The game is simple in its structure but requires a combination of some skill, tactical thinking and luck. A player purchases one or more cards configured with a series of random printed numbers. The player then pulls a spring that launches a small ball into a field with numbers, much like a pinball game. At some point, the ball, which uses gravity, stops at a random number. If the player has the same number on their card, then they receive a prize.
10 FACTS ABOUT ‘KAZANTI’
- Kazanti is an incredibly popular game in Cyprus that also known as ‘street roulette’.
- Although the game is known as ‘street roulette’, the mechanics of the game are based more on a pinball and lottery principle.
- Kazanti keeps a longstanding tradition of competitive play among the island’s inhabitants.
- The strategy for the game lies in the ‘strength of the pull’ meaning that the player can control the strength with which the ball is launched, influencing where the ball will land.
- Typical prizes include children’s toys, scooters, skateboards, or small household interior items such as aquariums, clocks, figurines, or lamps.
- Kazanti is a very fast game, and it only takes a few seconds for the ball to land on a number.
- Kazanti vans can be found at most celebrations, festivals and other public events.
- Kazanti is a licensed regulated activity and a special kazanti permit is required to set one up.
- Each owner of a kazanti can independently set the price for each game depending on the value of the prize.
- A game played for a small item may cost 1 or 2 euros, whilst more substantial prizes could cost between 5 or 10 euros per game.
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