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Sovereign state
Europe
ISO CY

Cyprus: gambling regulation and licensing

Republic of Cyprus

  • Online sports bettingRegulated
  • Online casinoProhibited
  • Online pokerProhibited
  • Online bingoProhibited
  • Lottery and iLotteryProhibited
  • Horse race bettingNot yet verified
  • Esports bettingRegulated
  • Land-based (reference)Regulated
Regulator
National Betting Authority
Headline tax
15% GGR
Licence required
Yes
Last verified
23 Sept 2026

Summary

Cyprus licenses sports betting and nothing else online. The Betting Law of 2019 (Law 37(I)/2019), which replaced the 2012 law, gives the National Betting Authority two licence classes: Class A for betting in licensed premises and Class B for online betting, including esports. Online casino games, including poker, roulette and slot-type games, are banned outright, and playing them is itself an offence. Betting exchanges, spread betting and greyhound betting are banned too, and horse race betting sits outside both licence classes. Lottery and pools games are an exclusive licence held by OPAP Cyprus under a separate 2018 law and are played in person at agencies, while the integrated casino resort is licensed under the 2015 casino law. Class B operators must run a .com.cy site, keep a backup server in Cyprus, hold at least 500,000 euros of share capital and lodge a 550,000 euro bank guarantee. Licences last one or two years for a fee of 30,000 or 45,000 euros. Thirteen Class B and six Class A licences were in force in September 2026. Betting pays 15% of net betting receipts, meaning stakes less winnings paid: a 10% betting tax and a 5% contribution to the Authority, most of which goes to sport. The contribution rose from 3% at the end of 2024. Online betting generated 99.7 million euros of net receipts in 2025 and 29.7 million euros in the first quarter of 2026, 21% more than a year earlier. Internet providers must block unlicensed sites within 72 hours, and the Authority's blocking list held 22,543 entries on 14 September 2026.

Common pitfalls

Assuming a Class B licence covers casino or poker: it does not, and online casino is a criminal offence for operator and player alike. Using the old 13% rate: the Authority contribution rose to 5% from 30 December 2024, so the charge is 15% of net betting receipts. Treating incorporation in Cyprus as permission to serve Cypriot players: only a Class B licence and a .com.cy site allow that.

Key facts

Regulator
National Betting Authority (NBA)
Regulator type
Dedicated regulator
Headline tax
15% GGR
Licence required
Yes
Minimum age
18+
Tax base
Net betting receipts for each calendar month: all amounts paid to the licensee for bets, less winnings paid to players in the month, with free or discounted bets counted at their full stake and the operator's costs not deductible (art 74(5) to (7)). The 15% is made up of a 10% betting tax paid to the Consolidated Fund and a 5% contribution to the National Betting Authority.
Capital
Nicosia
Currency
EUR
Official languages
Greek, Turkish

How to get a gambling licence in Cyprus

The regulator is the National Betting Authority (NBA).

We record 4 licence types for Cyprus.

For the Class B licence (online betting), the application fee is €30,000 (as of 8 Mar 2019).

Applications
Accepted on a rolling basis
Local presence
A local company or establishment is required; servers must be located locally; sites must use a .com.cy domain.
Financial guarantee
Bank guarantee of 550,000 euros, valid until six months after the licence expires; the Authority can require it to be raised to cover 10% of annual turnover (art 32(2)).
Headline tax
15% GGR (see Taxation for the full position)

Licence fees in Cyprus

Licence typeApplication feeAnnual feeTerm
Class B licence (online betting)30,000 euros for a one-year licence or 45,000 euros for two years, paid on application or renewal; refunded less 25% if the application is refused€30,000 (as of 8 Mar 2019)Not yet verified1 or 2 years
Class A licence (betting in licensed premises)30,000 euros for one year or 45,000 euros for two years€30,000 (as of 8 Mar 2019)Not yet verified1 or 2 years
Authorised agent licence (Class A)2,000 euros for one year or 3,000 euros for two, or 170 euros a month where the principal licence has less time to run€2,000 (as of 8 Mar 2019)Not yet verifiedRuns with the Class A licence

Built from the record on this page, last verified 23 Sept 2026. The Licensing and Taxation sections carry the full detail and sources.

Licensing

Licence required
Yes
Application window
Rolling
Local establishment required
Yes
Local server required
Yes
Local domain required
.com.cy
Active licences
13 (as of 23 Sept 2026)
Bank guarantee or bond
Bank guarantee of 550,000 euros, valid until six months after the licence expires; the Authority can require it to be raised to cover 10% of annual turnover (art 32(2)).
Notable licensees
Hillside (New Media Cyprus) Limited (bet365), OPAP Sports Ltd (Allwynbet), Stoiximan Ltd (Stoiximan), Gamart Limited (Novibet), Fortune Entertainment RG Limited (Fonbet)
Certification requirements
Class B applicants must install a backup server in Cyprus, connected in parallel to the main server, holding the data the Authority specifies (art 32(3)).
Barriers to entry
Applicants must be companies limited by shares, incorporated in Cyprus or registered there as overseas companies under Part VIII of the Companies Law, with betting as their main business and at least 500,000 euros of paid-up share capital (art 32(1)). Class B operators must use a .com.cy site (art 68) and keep a backup server in Cyprus. Thirteen Class B and six Class A licences were in force in September 2026.

Licence types

  • Class B licence (online betting)

    Scope
    Online betting on sporting and other real events, excluding limited-payout gaming machines, online casino games and online horse race betting (art 16(2)(b))
    Term
    1 or 2 years
    Application fee
    €30,000 as of 8 Mar 2019
    Fee basis
    30,000 euros for a one-year licence or 45,000 euros for two years, paid on application or renewal; refunded less 25% if the application is refused
    Renewal terms
    Renewed for one or two years on application with the same fee (arts 18 and 28).
  • Class A licence (betting in licensed premises)

    Scope
    Betting in licensed premises, excluding Class B services and horse race betting (art 16(2)(a))
    Term
    1 or 2 years
    Application fee
    €30,000 as of 8 Mar 2019
    Fee basis
    30,000 euros for one year or 45,000 euros for two years
  • Authorised agent licence (Class A)

    Scope
    Betting on behalf of a Class A licensee in licensed premises (art 16(2)(c))
    Term
    Runs with the Class A licence
    Application fee
    €2,000 as of 8 Mar 2019
    Fee basis
    2,000 euros for one year or 3,000 euros for two, or 170 euros a month where the principal licence has less time to run
  • Premises licence

    Scope
    Use of premises for Class A betting
    Fee basis
    First premises free; 2,000 euros (one year) or 3,000 euros (two years) for each additional premises

Taxation

Headline GGR tax
15% GGR
Effective date
30 Dec 2024
Withholding mechanism
Tax and contribution are calculated monthly and paid by bank transfer to the Authority by the end of the following month, with a monthly statement to tax@nba.gov.cy. Late payment adds a 5% surcharge plus default interest, and after 60 days the Authority can call the licensee's bank guarantee (arts 75 and 76, Directive 14.2025.v2).
Tax base
Net betting receipts for each calendar month: all amounts paid to the licensee for bets, less winnings paid to players in the month, with free or discounted bets counted at their full stake and the operator's costs not deductible (art 74(5) to (7)). The 15% is made up of a 10% betting tax paid to the Consolidated Fund and a 5% contribution to the National Betting Authority.

Earmarked levies

  • Contribution to the National Betting Authority (part of the 15%): 5% of net betting receipts: 3% to the federation that organises the football championship and 1% to other team sport federations, via the Cyprus Sports Organisation, and 1% for protecting young people and problem gamblers (Cyprus Sports Organisation and player protection programmes)
  • Casino tax (integrated casino resort): 15% of gross gaming revenue, which cannot be raised during the exclusivity period (Republic of Cyprus)

Compliance

Minimum age
18+
National self-exclusion
National Self Exclusion Platform (NSEP) (mandatory)
KYC timing
Verification within 30 days of registration and before any withdrawal
AML regime
Licensees apply the NBA AML directive issued under the national AML law. In licensed premises, customer due diligence applies to any transaction of 2,000 euros or more, or on player registration.
AML supervisor
National Betting Authority
Deposit limits
Players cannot bet until they have set a deposit limit, except for a first deposit; they are alerted at 80% of the limit, and loosening a limit takes effect only after seven days (reg 21).
Loss limits
Operators must let players set loss limits for a chosen period (art 67(h)).
Session limits
Players can set time limits, time-outs of up to three months (at least 24 hours, 72 hours, one week and one month offered) and daily availability windows (art 67(h) and reg 21).
Source of funds thresholds
Class A premises: due diligence and removal of anonymity for transactions of 2,000 euros or more (Directive 15.2024.v4, para 5.2.3).
Data localisation
Class B operators must keep a backup server in Cyprus that mirrors data specified by the Authority (art 32(3)).
KYC requirements
Registration is online and must include confirmation that the player is 18 or over, identity details, residential address and email. The operator must verify identity and details within 30 days of the application and may not pay out anything before identity, address and age are verified. Each player may hold only one account (arts 58, 60 and 63).
Stake limits
No statutory stake cap; players can set betting limits per period or per bet (reg 21).
Mandatory player messaging
The player's net win or loss since registration must be shown permanently and prominently in the account (reg 20).
Reporting obligations
Monthly tax and contribution statements; a quarterly report on identified minors within ten days of quarter end (Directive 19.2025.v2); quarterly statements of advertising and sponsorship spend (Advertising Code, para 34).
Game content restrictions
Online casino games, limited-payout gaming machines, betting exchanges, spread betting and greyhound betting are banned (arts 83 to 87). Esports betting requires prior review of terms and tournaments.

Advertising

Advertising permitted
Yes
Watershed
Broadcast betting advertising is allowed only in the hours permitted under the Radio and Television Organisations Law 7(I)/1998. Advertising is allowed during live sport and for 15 minutes before and after the event, but only on the channel broadcasting it (paras 17 and 18).
Affiliate rules
Affiliates are not separately licensed. Licensees must ensure the third parties they contract with know and apply the Advertising Code, do not place ads on sites giving unauthorised access to copyright content, and stop any breach or have their contract ended (para 11).
Sponsorship rules
Covert sponsorship is banned. Licensees may not sponsor leagues, teams or activities where most participants are under 18, individual minor athletes, news, current affairs, political, children's or religious programmes, or put their logo on items designed mainly for children (paras 29 to 33).
Celebrity and influencer rules
Endorsement by well-known personalities in a way that implies a link with their success is an offence (art 89(1)(b)). Anyone who publishes betting advertising in their content must disclose their relationship with the licensee and that it is paid advertising, and may not present it as their own view as a consumer or expert (para 9).
Social media rules
Social media use must be age-gated to exclude minors, and licensee pages must urge use of self-protection tools and state that minors may not bet (para 14).
Bonus advertising rules
Outside the licensee's own site and premises, promotions that require a minimum amount or number of bets within a set period cannot be advertised, except registration and deposit rewards. Terms must be clear with worked examples and can change only in the player's favour (paras 19 to 23).
Mandatory warnings
Every advertisement must state that betting by minors is prohibited, carry a safer gambling message pre-approved by the Authority and refer to www.safergambling.gov.cy; audiovisual ads must visibly mention self-protection tools (paras 12, 16, 25 and 26).
Penalties for breach
Up to six months in prison or a 30,000 euro fine for prohibited advertising content, and up to one year or 50,000 euros for advertising banned services (art 89). The Authority can also impose administrative fines of up to 100,000 euros (art 95).

Restrictions

  • Licensees must submit every advertising draft to the Authority, which can approve, ban or amend it, and every promotion needs prior approval (Advertising Code, paras 4 and 24).
  • Advertising betting through an unlicensed operator, or advertising services banned by arts 83 to 87 such as online casino, is a criminal offence (art 89).
  • Advertising must not suggest that betting brings social acceptance or personal or financial success, or solves personal, financial or social problems (art 89(1)).
  • No advertising with particular appeal to minors or aimed at them, and no one who is or looks under 25 may be shown betting or play a significant role (para 15).
  • Television betting advertising is limited to 1.5 minutes per broadcaster in any clock hour and is banned around children's programmes (para 17).
  • Direct marketing may be sent only to registered players, never to self-excluded players, and opt-outs must be honoured within 72 hours (para 10).

Payments

Credit card ban
No
Crypto stance
Not yet verified
Permitted methods
Bank transfer from the player's bank account, Credit cards, Debit cards, Electronic transfer, Electronic money from an authorised issuer
Withdrawal timeframe rules
Payouts within five working days of the player's request, only to the bank account the stakes came from, and only after identity, address and age are verified. Cash deposits and credit to players are banned; player funds sit in a segregated client account (arts 62, 63 and 65).
Currency restrictions
All amounts must be shown in euro (reg 10).

Enforcement

ISP blocking
Yes
DNS blocking
Not yet verified
Payment blocking
Not yet verified
App store takedowns
Not yet verified
Blocklist size
22,543 (as of 14 Sept 2026)
Administrative penalties
Administrative fines of up to 100,000 euros for breach of a licence, the law, regulations or directives (art 95); licence suspension or revocation
Criminal penalties
Unlicensed betting, and providing online casino games, carry up to five years in prison or a 300,000 euro fine (arts 79 and 84); an internet provider that ignores a blocking notice faces up to two years or 170,000 euros (art 70)
Operator liability
Internet providers must block every site the Authority notifies within 72 hours (art 69).
Player liability
Taking part in betting conducted in breach of the law, or in online casino games, is an offence punishable by up to one year in prison or a 50,000 euro fine (art 81).

Notable actions

  • Bookieco Betting Stores Ltd (BookieCo)10 Feb 2026

    Class A licence A016 lapsed on 9 February 2026 and the company could not take bets from 10 February; the register shows a new licence running from 28 February 2026

  • All licensees5 May 2026

    Betting on the 2026 parliamentary elections allowed only on approved terms and closed at 23:59 on 16 May 2026, seven days before the vote

Market data

Figures on this record are drawn from official regulator data.

Online GGR
€99,716,221 as of 31 Dec 2025
Reporting year
2025
Licensed operators
13

GGR by vertical

  • Online sports betting: €99,716,221 as of 31 Dec 2025

Timeline

  1. 21 Mar 2019

    The Betting Law of 2019 is published, replacing the 2012 Betting Laws

  2. 1 Jul 2021

    Advertising Code KD.02.2021 takes effect

  3. 1 Dec 2022

    Player protection regulations take effect, with mandatory deposit limits

  4. 31 Jan 2024

    National Self Exclusion Platform becomes mandatory for Class B operators

  5. 30 Dec 2024

    Contribution to the Authority rises from 3% to 5%, taking the total charge on net betting receipts to 15%

  6. 10 Feb 2026

    BookieCo stops taking bets after its Class A licence lapses

  7. 16 May 2026

    Betting on the parliamentary elections closes a week before the vote

  8. 16 Jul 2026

    First quarter 2026 results: online net betting receipts up 21% to 29.7 million euros

Outlook

The Authority still lists the 2021 Advertising Code as in force three years after consulting on a revision, so a new code remains possible. The two-year Class B licences of bet365 and Allwynbet run to 31 December 2026 and come up for renewal. Results for April to June 2026 are due from the Authority, and its ninth Safer Gambling Week runs from 12 to 18 October 2026. No amendment to the Betting Law has been published since Law 162(I)/2024.

Frequently asked questions

Can you get an online casino licence in Cyprus?
No. Online casino games, including poker and roulette, are banned under article 84 of the Betting Law of 2019, and playing them is an offence for the player carrying up to one year in prison or a 50,000 euro fine.
Who regulates online betting in Cyprus?
The National Betting Authority, under the Betting Law of 2019. The integrated casino resort is supervised separately under the 2015 casino law.
What is the betting tax in Cyprus?
15% of net betting receipts (stakes less winnings paid) each month: a 10% betting tax and a 5% contribution to the National Betting Authority, paid by the end of the following month.
What does a Class B licence require?
A company with at least 500,000 euros of paid-up capital, a 550,000 euro bank guarantee, a backup server in Cyprus, a .com.cy website and a fee of 30,000 euros for one year or 45,000 euros for two.
Is there a national self-exclusion scheme?
Yes. The National Self Exclusion Platform at exclusion.cy has been mandatory for Class B operators since 31 January 2024, and players must set a deposit limit before they can bet.
How much does a gambling licence cost in Cyprus?
For the Class B licence (online betting), the application fee is €30,000 (as of 8 Mar 2019). For the Class A licence (betting in licensed premises), the application fee is €30,000 (as of 8 Mar 2019). For the Authorised agent licence (Class A), the application fee is €2,000 (as of 8 Mar 2019). The Licensing section lists all 4 licence types recorded for Cyprus. Last verified 23 Sept 2026.
Is online gambling legal in Cyprus?
Online casino is prohibited in Cyprus, and online sports betting is legal for licensed operators. The status of every vertical is at the top of this page. Last verified 23 Sept 2026.

Events in Cyprus

Past events

Glossary and directory

iGT coverage of Cyprus

French regulator urges operators to curb world cup advertising spend as budgets surge
Regulatory

France's Gambling Market Grows 0.5% to €5.66bn in H1 2026 as Only Online Expands

France's regulated gambling market barely grew in the first half, and only because online sports betting had a World Cup June. The regulator now says the full-year figure depends on whether a record 5.85 million active online accounts keep playing after the tournament, and on a lottery operator whose French revenue is shrinking.

Parliament committee chamber
Regulatory

Cyprus Asks How to Stop Welfare Recipients Gambling Without Naming Them

The regulator has seen gambling activity spike around the days minimum-income payments land, and has been asking since 2023 how to check whether a casino-card applicant is a benefit recipient. The answer on the table is a yes-or-no lookup against an ID number. The Data Protection Commissioner's alternative, a card that marks the holder out, drew warnings about stigma.

Sources

Source tiers. Tier 1: the law, official gazette, licence register or regulator itself. Tier 2: other official sources such as ministries, parliaments, courts and statistics agencies. Only tier 1 and tier 2 sources can support a fact on their own.

  1. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 21 Mar 2019
  2. Law 37(I)/2019, Official Gazette of the Republic of Cyprus No. 4692, 21 March 2019

    CyLaw (Cyprus Bar Association legal database) (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 21 Mar 2019
  3. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 20 Aug 2020
  4. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 30 Dec 2024
  5. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 30 Dec 2024
  6. Tax and Contribution (Foros kai Eisfora)

    National Betting Authority (Cyprus) (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  7. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 8 Mar 2019
  8. Fees (Teli)

    National Betting Authority (Cyprus) (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  9. Administrative Fine (art 95 of Law 37(I)/2019)

    National Betting Authority (Cyprus) (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  10. Competences of the Authority (Armodiotites)

    National Betting Authority (Cyprus) (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  11. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  12. Register of Class B (online) licensees

    National Betting Authority (Cyprus) (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  13. Register of Class A (land-based) licensees

    National Betting Authority (Cyprus) (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  14. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 14 Sept 2026
  15. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 1 Dec 2022
  16. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 31 Jan 2024
  17. National Self-Exclusion Platform

    National Betting Authority (Cyprus)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  18. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 13 Feb 2025
  19. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  20. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 16 Jan 2024
  21. Advertising Code KD.02.2021 (in force 1 July 2021)

    National Betting Authority (Cyprus) (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 1 Jul 2021
  22. Public consultation: Advertising Code (21 June 2023)

    National Betting Authority (Cyprus) (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 21 Jun 2023
  23. Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  24. Financial results for the first quarter of 2025

    National Betting Authority (Cyprus) (translated)

    Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  25. Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 26 Nov 2025
  26. Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 13 Jan 2026
  27. Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 12 May 2026
  28. Financial results for January to March 2026

    National Betting Authority (Cyprus) (translated)

    Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 16 Jul 2026
  29. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 11 Feb 2026
  30. Parliamentary elections and the provision of betting services

    National Betting Authority (Cyprus) (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 5 May 2026
  31. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 13 Jun 2018
  32. Regulatory framework: OPAP Cyprus (directives and codes of practice)

    National Betting Authority (Cyprus) (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  33. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026

Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.

This page is industry reference information and not legal advice.

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