Cyprus Casinos

2012 Betting Law

In 2012 Cyprus introduced a Betting Law. Following intense debate in Cyprus, the government decided to make casino games which offered “games of chance” betting illegal, regardless of whether the casino operated online or on the high street. It was also decided under the 2012 Betting Law, that lotteries, betting on horse races and other sport competitions, would only be made legal and would be regulated if the betting took place in ‘bricks and mortar’ high street venues. Only lotteries and sports betting could take place on the internet.

The NBA

One feature of Cyprus’ new betting legislation is the National Betting Authority, known as the NBA, which the Ministry of Finance set up. The NBA is the governing association responsible for Cyprus’ licensing and regulations related to all gambling elements taking place inside Cyprus's boundaries.

Part of this responsibility is to protect minors and those considered problem gamblers from the negative consequences of advertising within the industry that could be viewed as predatory. Other principal responsibilities of the NBA are to provide monitoring and licensing services for legal gaming operators and curb illegal types of gambling. The NBA works alongside the Ministry of Finance to provide taxation support to gambling operators, both in online casinos and high-street casinos.

Gambling is considered as Class B

The Cyprus jurisdiction has created two different classes of gambling operations—Class A relates to gambling activities in high street casinos and Class B to gambling activities within online casinos. With Class B regulations, the NBA has the authority to manage the rules about how players communicate with casino websites and how these operators are expected to communicate with their players and the NBA.

Players of casinos and other gambling operators in Cyprus are required to be aged 18 or over. They must provide appropriate identification that proves their age. Players must also register for a gaming account with a provider. They are not permitted to make deposits into their online casino accounts with cash funds. They must provide adequate proof they have the necessary money available to cover deposits made into online casino accounts via debit card, credit card or by an online transfer from their bank account.

Other regulations set out by the Cyprus jurisdiction include the requirement that the applicant for a license be void of any criminal convictions, that the applicant acting as an individual be aged 25 or over, and that the operator’s headquarters or offices be located within the confines of Cyprus.