Is online gambling legal in Cyprus?
Online sports betting is legal in Cyprus with any company holding a Class B licence from the National Betting Authority (NBA), but online casinos and poker sites are illegal. You must be 18 to bet. All legally licensed online betting operators use a website address ending in .com.cy.
OverviewOverview built from public sources. An in-depth review of Cyprus is available on request. Request it
| Product | Online |
|---|---|
| Online betting | Legal |
| Online casino | Illegal |
| Online poker | Illegal |
| Lottery | Partial |
Gambling in Cyprus: what you need to know
Winnings from legal sports betting are not subject to personal income tax, but lottery prizes over €5,000 are taxed at 20%. The National Self-Exclusion Platform (NSEP) lets you block yourself from all legal online betting sites with a single registration.
What's legal online in Cyprus: sports betting only
Only what is listed as legal above is licensed. Anything else offered to you online is unlicensed and gives you no protection.
Online sports betting is legal on sites licensed in Cyprus. Online casino is banned in Cyprus. Online poker is banned in Cyprus. The lottery is only partly legal in Cyprus (partial).
Using a VPN to reach gambling sites from Cyprus: Restricted.
Gambling with crypto: Banned. The use of cryptocurrencies for funding betting accounts is strictly prohibited. Regulations require all transactions to be processed through licensed payment institutions.
Minimum age: 21
You must be 18 to gamble online in Cyprus, for online casino, sports betting and lottery alike. The legal age is 18 for sports betting but 21 for entering land-based casinos.
Tax on winnings: none
Winnings from licensed sports betting and casino games are tax-free for players. However, lottery winnings over €5,000 are subject to a 20% tax.
How to check a site is licensed in Cyprus
The regulator's register lists 13 online licence holders in Cyprus (checked 5 Nov 2026, no change since 29 Oct 2026).
Always verify a casino holds a valid National Betting Authority (NBA Cyprus) licence before depositing. Check the official register before signing up.
The official register of licensed sitesNational Betting Authority (NBA Cyprus)'s website
Prominent operators in Cyprus
If a site isn't on the regulator's licensee register, ask the regulator before you play: an unlisted site is usually not licensed here (a register can lag behind a new licence). An unlicensed site is outside the regulator's supervision, so you cannot complain to the regulator about it.
Red flags: how to spot an unlicensed site
- Verify the Licence with the National Betting Authority
Before betting, confirm that the company holds a valid Class B licence from the National Betting Authority (NBA). This is the only way to confirm a site is legal and regulated in Cyprus.
- Look for the .com.cy Website Address
All legally licensed online betting operators in Cyprus are required to use a website address ending in .com.cy. Be wary of sites using generic .com or other domains, as they are likely unlicensed.
- Use the National Self-Exclusion Platform
Licensed operators must connect to the National Self-Exclusion Platform (NSEP). This allows you to block yourself from all legal online betting sites in Cyprus with a single registration.
- Confirm Payment Methods
Legal operators must process transactions through licensed banking institutions and are forbidden from using cash or cryptocurrency for online bets. The availability of secure, mainstream payment options is a sign of a regulated site.
Bonuses: what's allowed and red flags
What you can expect from a licensed site's offers in Cyprus. The rules operators must follow are on the operator page.
- Welcome bonus
- Restricted
- • Online casino games
- • Slots
- • Poker
Promotions are heavily scrutinised to avoid misleading claims; for example, the term 'free' may be considered misleading if tied to significant wagering requirements. Promotions that pressure players by requiring a minimum betting amount or number of bets in a specific timeframe are prohibited, except on the operator's own website.
Which casinos & betting sites are licensed in Cyprus?
See the full official list of licensed operators and their authorised domains.
Draft gambling rules Cyprus has notified to the EU
Under Directive (EU) 2015/1535 a member state files a draft technical rule with the European Commission before adopting it. These are the gambling drafts on that register (TRIS), newest first. The dates are the Commission's: when the draft was received, and the earliest day the state may adopt it.
- 2025-02-17 · 2025/0094/CYLEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL by MPs Mr. Georgios Loukaidis and Mr. Andreas Pasiourtidis on behalf of the Parliamentary Group of AKEL-Left-New Forces entitled: "The (Amendment) Law on Certain Games of Chance of 2025".Standstill until 2025-05-19. Notification and draft text on TRIS →
Read from TRIS on 4 Nov 2026.
Self-exclusion and problem-gambling help in Cyprus
1.5% of adults in Cyprus are estimated to have a gambling problem (National Betting Authority 2022).
Compare with other countries →Registering blocks your access to the licensed operators the scheme covers, for the period the scheme sets.
Set your limits before you play. If gambling stops being fun, stop and talk to someone.
Complaints and disputes in Cyprus
- 1
1. Contact the Operator Directly
The first step is to try and resolve the dispute directly with the customer service department of the licensed betting operator.
- 2
2. File a Formal Complaint with the Regulator
If the issue is not resolved, players can submit a formal complaint against a Class A or Class B licensee to the National Betting Authority. This should be done via email, providing all relevant details of the dispute.
- 3
3. Legal Action
If the regulatory complaint process does not yield a satisfactory result, the final recourse is to pursue legal action through the Cypriot court system.
Common myths about gambling in Cyprus
- MythAll online gambling is illegal in Cyprus.Reality
This is incorrect. Online sports betting is legal and regulated by the National Betting Authority. You can legally bet with any company holding a Class B licence. However, online casinos and poker sites are illegal.
- MythMy winnings will be taxed.Reality
Winnings from legal sports betting and casino games are not subject to personal income tax. The only exception is for lottery prizes, where a 20% tax is applied to winnings that exceed €5,000.
- MythIt's safe to play on any site that accepts Cypriot players.Reality
This is dangerous. The NBA maintains a blacklist of over 21,000 illegal websites. Playing on these sites offers no consumer protection, and they are actively blocked by Cypriot ISPs. Only play on sites with a Class B licence from the NBA.
Frequently asked questions about gambling in Cyprus
Are gambling winnings taxed in Cyprus?
No, winnings from legal gambling activities are not subject to personal income tax for players in Cyprus.
What is the legal gambling age in Cyprus?
The minimum age for all forms of legal gambling in Cyprus, including sports betting and entering the casino, is 21.
Is it illegal to use a VPN for online gambling in Cyprus?
While using a VPN is not illegal in itself, using one specifically to bypass government ISP blocks and access unlicensed, illegal gambling websites is prohibited under Cypriot law.
How can I file a complaint against a betting operator in Cyprus?
Players with disputes against a locally licensed operator should first attempt to resolve it with the company. If unsuccessful, a formal complaint can be submitted to the National Betting Authority via email at [email protected].
Why is there only one legal casino company in Cyprus?
The Cypriot government created a state-sanctioned monopoly for casino gaming. It awarded a single, 30-year exclusive license to a consortium (Melco Resorts) to build and operate the City of Dreams Mediterranean integrated resort and its satellite casinos. No other company can legally offer casino games.
What Cyprus bets on most
Football is the most popular sport for betting, and major European competitions and top domestic leagues attract the highest volumes. The National Betting Authority is actively working with sports federations to combat the country's significant match-fixing problem.
Biggest wins in Cyprus
A woman from Limassol won €16.4 million in the Joker lottery with a €3 ticket. This was the highest amount ever collected by a single winner in Cyprus at the time.
Sources: GreekReporter.com · Cyprus Mail
A foreign national won €500,000 at a Cypriot casino. This was reported as the largest single win in the early months of the casino's operation.
Source: Economy Today
Methodology & sources
This page is a Quick AI overview: a summary of public information, not yet checked against the law or the regulator. Treat it as a starting point. It has not yet been through our Deep AI Scan.