Cyprus turns to technology in the fight against illegal betting

Panayiotis Trisokkas, Chairman of the Cyprus National Betting Authority, said at the country's ninth Safer Gambling Conference that illegal betting should be fought more firmly. Trisokkas stressed that player protection should not be limited to compliance with regulations. The conference also marked the start of Cyprus's ninth Safer Gambling Week.

According to Trisokkas, a well-regulated market is a precondition for a sustainable market. In his view, authorities should continuously review whether existing frameworks are still suited to changing market conditions and new risks.

The conference discussed how artificial intelligence, data analytics and digital technologies could detect problematic gambling behavior earlier and make intervention easier. Psychological and biological risk-taking behaviors in gambling, as well as responsible advertising practices, were also up for debate.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Finance, Lucy Herodotou Mouskou said the success of the sector should not be measured by economic performance alone. Conveying the message of the Minister of Finance, Mouskou said economic prosperity should advance together with consumer protection. While individuals are expected to play responsibly within their limits, she emphasized that the state has a responsibility to provide support when those limits are exceeded.