BetProCy

Cyprus Betting Laws & Licensing Guide

A complete guide to Cyprus's National Betting Authority (NBA), Class A and Class B licenses, and how to verify a bookmaker is legal in the Republic of Cyprus.

The National Betting Authority

Cyprus's National Betting Authority (NBA — nba.gov.cy) is the independent regulator that oversees all legal betting in the Republic of Cyprus under Law 106(I)/2012. No operator may accept bets from Cyprus residents without an active NBA licence.

Class A vs Class B Licences

Class A — land-based betting at physical shops. Covers sports outside horse racing. Requires physical premises and capital adequacy.

Class B — online betting. This is the licence every online bookmaker needs to legally serve Cypriot players. It carries stricter AML/KYC obligations and ongoing technical compliance audits.

Horse-race betting and casino games do not fall under the A/B framework and are governed by separate regimes.

Legality Checklist

Before signing up with any bookmaker, verify:

  1. Class B licence displayed in the site footer, with a licence number.
  2. Cross-check the public register on the NBA's site at nba.gov.cy — confirm the number is active.
  3. 13% participation tax withheld on deposits (a sign that the operator is computing Cyprus tax).
  4. 18+ and responsible gambling clearly in the footer, linking to the NBA.
  5. Cyprus-based representative address or a clear EU/EEA registered office.

If any of the above is missing, the operator is most likely not licensed for the Cyprus market — avoid it.

Tax on Winnings

Winnings from legal Class B bets are not separately taxed at the player level, because the 13% tax is collected directly from the operator on stakes (a turnover-tax model).

Illegal Platforms

The NBA maintains a public blacklist of unlicensed websites. Cyprus ISPs are required to block access to them. Using one exposes you to legal and financial risk — there is no consumer protection and no guarantee of payouts.

Play Responsibly

Betting is entertainment, not a source of income. If you feel you're losing control, call the NBA's free, anonymous 24/7 helpline at 1455.