Cyprus Jurisdiction profile

Located in the East Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus is an island where online gambling laws are murky. Most online gambling is considered illegal, with traditional land-based gambling and sports betting legalized in 2012. The country enacted a blanket ban of sorts on iGaming except for sports betting, giving players little options in the region to enjoy online slots, blackjack, and other games.

Previously, in 2012, the republic decided to legalize online and offline sports betting. The Betting Law 2012 created the National Betting Authority to cover the sports betting side of services. This law regulates a few forms of gambling in Cyprus. This is the main piece of legislation in the republic, and it has been amended several times since it was first enacted.

Online sports betting is currently the only form of legal gambling allowed in Cyprus. Horse race betting is offered in the region online but is under the monopoly of the Nicosia Race Club. The betting law does not allow any other form of online gambling to take place in Cyprus. This could change in the future if officials decide to tackle the casino industry in its online format.

By 2014, the Ministry of Finance and the National Betting Authority decide to introduce other forms of gambling in the country. An integrated casino resort would be allowed along with four smaller satellite locations. This was the only introduction of casino gaming in the region thus far. Melco Resorts was the selected operator for the land-based venues.

The island is a member of the European Union, so this is where the gambling laws get a little tricky. Based on EU directives, Cyprus should allow foreign online gambling operators to obtain licensing and provide access to the market to all other countries that are part of the EU.

Operators should still be allowed to offer services if licensing is unavailable. The country cannot block such websites or prosecute players who bet on the platforms.

The only online license on offer in Cyprus currently is a sports betting option. This is somewhat in violation of EU gambling laws. So, unlicensed online casino gaming is the alternative for those located in Cyprus. Technically, the activity is considered illegal, but because of the EU status of the country, the rules of the EU override the illegal status.

Offshore sites offer services to players in Cyprus, providing gamers access to slots, table games, video poker, and live casino titles. Such operators are not licensed in the country, so players should seek out sites that are regulated in other regions, such as the UK or Malta. Sites that have licensing via trusted regulators will offer secure gaming, a quality platform, safe banking methods, and helpful customer support, among other features.

As far as available licensing is concerned, the country offers two types, both of which are accessible via the National Betting Authority. Class A is a license for traditional betting at a land-based venue and does not include horse race betting. Class B is for online sports betting, excluding horse racing as well.

The annual licensing fee for an operator is €45,000 every two years. Any company with licensing is expected to have a physical presence in the country.