Can I bet or gamble online in Cyprus?
It depends: only licensed online sports betting is permitted. Only online sports betting with an operator licensed by the National Betting Authority (NBA) is allowed, under Law 37(I)/2019 (a Class B licence). Online casino, poker, slots and betting exchanges are illegal. Minimum age 18; registration requires age and identity confirmation. The NBA maintains a weekly-updated blocking list of illegal sites; legal operators display the NBA logo. In short: yes only with a licensed sports-betting operator, from 18.
📋 The rules
- Only licensed online sports betting (NBA)
- Online casino/poker/slots: illegal
- Minimum age 18; ID checks
- Blocking list of illegal sites
- Legal operators: NBA logo
🔓 Exceptions
- Licensed land-based casino: separate Casino Commission
- OPAP (Kino, Joker, Propo): legal land-based games
- A foreign licence (e.g. Malta) gives no legality in Cyprus
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The NBA can impose an administrative fine of up to €100,000, plus website blocking and licence revocation. Prohibited betting advertising is punishable by up to 6 months imprisonment or a fine up to €30,000, or both. Criminal (indicative, from legal sources): illegal operators up to 5 years and/or up to €300,000; players in illegal online gambling up to ~1 year and/or up to €50,000. Beware a myth: "online casinos are fine if the site is licensed abroad (e.g. Malta)" is false — Cyprus bans online casino/poker/slots outright, blocks such sites, and prosecutes both operators and players; a foreign licence gives no legality inside Cyprus. Tip: check the licensed list on the NBA website.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
Is online betting legal in Cyprus?
Yes, but only sports betting through an operator with a Class B licence from the National Betting Authority. Online casinos, poker, slots and betting exchanges are illegal and blocked.
What's the minimum age?
The minimum age is 18. Registration requires confirmation that you're over 18, identity details, an address and a valid email. Minors are also barred from licensed land-based betting premises.
Are online casinos allowed?
No. Online casinos, poker, slots, betting exchanges and dog races are illegal in Cyprus. The NBA maintains a weekly-updated blocking list of such sites.
Does a foreign licence count?
Not inside Cyprus. A licence from another country, for example Malta, doesn't make an online casino legal in Cyprus. Such sites are blocked, and both operators and players are prosecuted.
What fines apply?
The NBA can impose an administrative fine of up to €100,000, with website blocking and licence revocation. Illegal betting advertising is punishable by up to 6 months imprisonment or a fine up to €30,000.
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