Online casinos are illegal in Cyprus under current legislation, with the government strictly prohibiting all forms of online casino gambling including slot machines, poker, and electronic casino games. The National Betting Authority (NBA), established in 2012 and governed by the Betting Law of 2019 (Law 37(I)/2019), serves as the independent administrative authority responsible for licensing and supervising gambling activities in the country. (1) The only legal forms of online gambling permitted in Cyprus are Class B licensed online sports betting services, excluding horse racing, which must be provided by operators holding valid licenses from the NBA.
Cyprus maintains a comprehensive regulatory framework that distinguishes between legal and illegal gambling activities, with severe penalties for violations. Legal gambling in Cyprus is limited to specific government-approved activities including games of chance provided by OPAP Cyprus, state lotteries, licensed private lottery tickets, authorized horse races by the Nicosia Race Club, and the planned casino-resort supervised by the National Gaming and Casino Supervision Commission. (2) The NBA issues Class A licenses for land-based betting and Class B licenses for online sports betting, requiring operators to meet stringent requirements including €500,000 in share capital and €550,000 bank guarantees.
"Online casinos, betting exchanges, spread bets, dog races are also illegal, as is betting in premises or on websites that have not been licensed by the National Betting Authority."
The Cypriot government actively enforces its anti-gambling laws by maintaining a blocking list of illegal gambling websites that is updated weekly and published on the NBA's official website. Players who participate in illegal online casino gambling face criminal liability, and the law prohibits both operators and participants from engaging in unlicensed gambling activities. (2) Administrative fines can reach up to €100,000 for violations, and the NBA conducts regular inspections to ensure compliance with gambling regulations and protect players from illegal operations.
Source:
https://nba.gov.cy/en/frequently-asked-questions/
https://safergambling.gov.cy/en/article-beware-of-illegal-gambling/
Last updated: 26-07-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
