Cyprus Prepares Major Overhaul of Betting Legislation

Cyprus is preparing for significant changes to its betting regulatory framework. Authorities aim to strengthen player protection, fight illegal operators and modernise the licensed market.

Cyprus National Betting Authority Chairman Panagiotis Trisokkas said in an interview with iGamingExpress that licensing for online casino and B2B providers is planned. Illegal online betting, unauthorised promotion of services via social media and digital advertising were cited as the main challenges facing regulators.

The Cypriot betting market reached a volume of approximately 1.33 billion euros in 2025, which was stated to represent an 8 percent increase compared with 2024. Betting volume in the first quarter of 2026 reached 360.1 million euros, up 12 percent year on year, while in the second quarter it rose 11 percent to 329.8 million euros. Trisokkas emphasised that this growth makes effective supervision, a strong compliance culture and robust player protection measures mandatory.

The authority's strategic plan covering 2026 to 2028 focuses on stronger supervision, player protection and market modernisation. Trisokkas said the shift to a more proactive, risk-based and data-driven regulatory model would have the greatest impact. He stated that greater use of data, technology and intelligence would allow risks to be detected earlier. The authority also stands out for prevention work such as the GAME BRAiN education initiative, run with the Ministry of Education, and Safer Gambling Week.