Republic of Cyprus: prohibited
The rules of the Republic of Cyprus formulate a strict online perimeter: online gambling (casino games, slots, roulette, blackjack, poker, etc.) is prohibited, and the only allowed type of online activity is betting on sports and events from operators who have received a Cypriot license. This "narrow" model supports transparency, reduces social risks and separates regulated online betting from the terrestrial casino segment.
1) What exactly is prohibited online
Casino games (slots, roulette, blackjack, baccarat), online poker, instant games, lotteries and any products with casino mechanics.
Promotion/advertising of online casinos and poker rooms without a Cypriot bet license.
2) What is allowed online
Sports/event betting (prematch and live) at licensed operators. The platform is required to undergo technical certification, maintain logs, provide KYC/AML, telemetry and reporting.
3) Who regulates
National Betting Authority (NBA) - licenses and supervises only bets (retail and online), maintains a register of permitted brands, administers blocking of illegal sites, oversees Responsible Gaming (RG).
Land-based casinos and lotteries - in separate legal regimes and with other supervisory authorities.
4) Rate licensing: basic requirements
Legal transparency: disclosed beneficiaries and sources of funds, corporate documents.
Technologies: certified platform, sustainable live feeds, logs and time synchronization, DR/BCP plans.
KYC/AML: Age and personality verification to full play/withdrawal; monitoring operations.
RG-UX: deposit/loss/time limits, pause, self-exclusion, trained support.
5) Advertising and Communications
Allowed only for licensed rates: marking 18 +, neutral tone, prohibition of promises of "easy money" and FOMO-timers, lack of teenage aesthetics.
Any online casino/poker integrations are considered a violation and subject to sanctions.
6) Payments and access
Online bets: fiat methods (cards and other permitted methods); transparent payment terms and statuses.
Cryptocurrencies and "anonymous" channels are outside the legal perimeter online in the south.
7) Fighting the illegal segment
Blacklists of domains and blocking access to unlicensed sites.
Sanctions: fines, suspension/revocation of licenses, possible criminal liability for organizers of illegal activities.
Publication of lists of allowed operators and educational RG campaigns.
8) Risks for the player on illegal sites
No guarantees of payments and personal data protection.
There are no RG tools (limits, pauses, self-exclusions) and understandable dispute procedures.
High probability of blocking funds and inability to prove the right to win.
9) Practical checklists
To the player
1. Check the operator in the official register.
2. Pass KYC in advance - this speeds up payments.
3. Set limits before your first deposit; use "pauses."
4. Avoid "gray" online casinos and poker rooms - the risks are high.
Operator (rates)
1. Hold RG tools "in one click" and train support.
2. Ensure stable live feeds and log integrity.
3. Run neat, labeled 18 + ads without FOMO.
4. Reporting and incident reports - on schedule and with control data quality.
10) Economic and social balance
The online-only betting, casino-offline model maintains tax predictability, reduces the harm from easily accessible casino games, and maintains the tourism value of the land segment. The player receives a safe online product (supervised betting), and the state receives managed risk and transparent receipts.
11) Vision 2030 (framework)
Base scenario: maintaining the ban on online casinos, the growth of "white" online betting, deepening digital supervision (behavioral analytics, auto-audit of creatives).
Cautious innovation: possible payment pilots inside the fiat in a licensed environment; admission of online casinos is not expected without serious regulatory reform.
Focus on RG: unifying self-exclusion registries, extending session "health" metrics.
Conclusion: In the Republic of Cyprus, online gambling is prohibited, and only online bets from licensed operators are legal. A clear separation of online and offline reduces risks and protects the player, and the industry gives clear rules of the game: white online betting + land casinos as a tourist product.