Sun-kissed beaches and azure waters go hand in hand with online casinos in Cyprus, making the island the perfect destination for casino players. On this page, you can find top online casinos, Cyprus gambling law takeaways, and plenty of valuable gambling-related information about this Mediterranean country.
Online Gambling Laws and Regulations in Cyprus
The regulatory landscape regarding online gambling in Cyprus is complex and evolving, more or less following the trends in other countries.
Three primary legal acts govern gambling and betting activities in Cyprus:
- Prevention of Counterfeiting and Money Laundering Activities Law of 2007
- Betting Act of 2012, and
- Cyprus Casino Operations and Control Law 2015.
Additionally, the Cypriot government enacted the Casino Advertising and Promotions Code, which stipulates requirements for advertising and casino promotions.
Is Online Gambling Legal in Cyprus?
Betting real money on online games of chance is prohibited in Cyprus, and the only exception to this rule is sports betting, which is legal and carefully regulated.
The Betting Law makes it illegal for unlicensed operators to offer online gambling services in Cyprus and prohibits Cypriot residents from participating in unlicensed gambling activities.
Also, Cyprus has taken measures to block access to unauthorised gambling websites, requiring Internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to such sites to enforce the prohibition on unlicensed online gambling.
The enforcement of this law, however, is not the strictest, meaning that you will still be able to play at online casinos accepting Cypriot players, but you will have to turn to offshore platforms and operators that welcome Cyprus players.
Authorities That Regulate Online Gambling in Cyprus
In Cyprus, an online casino licence cannot be issued by any of the existing regulators, given that online gambling remains illegal.
However, when talking about regulatory bodies monitoring betting activities, there are two:
- Cyprus Gaming and Casino Supervision Commission, and
- National Betting Authority (issues Class A and B sports betting licences (excluding horse racing))
The first, the Cyprus Gaming and Casino Supervision Commission, licenses land-based casino operators, individuals working in the industry, hardware equipment, etc.
On the other hand, the National Betting Authority issues licences to sports betting companies, both land-based betting shops (Class A licence) and interactive, which permits online sport betting operators (Class B licence).
Online sports betting was introduced in 2016, and the country has since awarded 10 permits to online sportsbooks.
Are Land-Based Casinos Allowed in Cyprus?
Yes, land-based casinos are allowed in the Republic of Cyprus. However, the rules under which brick-and-mortar casinos are permitted are somewhat unorthodox.
In 2017, the Gaming and Casino Supervision Commission awarded a single 30-year gambling licence to Asian gambling titan Melco, with exclusivity in the Cypriot market for the first 15 years.
As a result, City of Dreams Mediterranean in Limassol, was opened in July 2023 as the only licensed gambling facility in the country and the first integrated resort in Europe. In addition to running the main casino, the operator's licence also allows it to operate another four "satellite casinos" nationwide.
Is It Safe to Gamble at a Cyprus Online Casino in Cyprus
If you stick to sports betting and/or use reliable VPN services, online gambling in Cyprus can be safe. Otherwise, even when you find alluring Cyprus online casino options that seem safe, you have to be aware of possible, no matter how unlikely, consequences that could occur.
Many casino sites will accept players from Cyprus, including these on our list, but please bear in mind that the best thing for your safety is to gamble with overseas casino operators.
When it comes to the legal gambling age, Cypriot residents cannot engage in casino games and sports betting before 18 years of age.
Payment Methods Available in Cyprus Casinos
One of the most important aspects of online casinos is their choice of payment methods. Regardless of the size of your bankroll, you will want to use reliable and secure payment solutions for handling your money.
Top Cyprus casinos offer various deposit and withdrawal options to suit virtually everyone's preference. Here's a partial overview of the payment gateways available at Cyprus casinos:
Credit and debit cards
It's safe to say that every online casino offers the most widely accepted payment cards like Visa and Maestro. Safe and secure and available for both deposits and withdrawals, these two ubiquitous banking solutions are readily available at virtually all Cyprus online casinos.
Paysafecard
Primarily meant for deposits, Paysafecard casinos have recently emerged as one of the players' favourites. Paysafecard is easy to use and entirely secure as long as you can obtain it from a designated point of sale. Its only downside is that it cannot be used for cashing out.
Trustly
If you have a bank account but wish to keep your bank details private from a casino, Trustly casino is a good option. Many online casinos Cyprus offer it as a payment method, to users' delight, requiring them to connect an eligible bank account with the Trustly app and let it handle their money.
Neteller
Neteller is undoubtedly the most popular e-wallet for casino goers and is present in dozens of countries worldwide. At Cyprus casino sites, Neteller is a standard option due to the speed and security of transactions.
Skrill
Skrill's popularity is owed to swift money transactions and the relatively high level of security offered by the service. Although it usually involves fees, users often choose to place their trust in Skrill casino platforms due to the speed and reliability of this method.
PayPal
PayPal has been a faithful companion of online casino operators and players alike and has maintained the reputation of a quick and dependable money-handling service. Widely accepted, it's one of the top payment methods for Cyprus casino players.
The Best Online Casinos That Accept Cyprus Players
When it comes to online casino real money, Cyprus offers some of the best options. As is our custom, we compiled them all here in one place, so you don't have to look further.
If you're looking for a crypto casino that offers plenty of withdrawal methods and lighting fast withdrawal times, ZenCasino could be a good choice. This Curacao-licensed casino site ticks all the boxes regarding speedy and reliable customer support, a host of casino games, and large withdrawal limits.
Fast withdrawals, an excellent selection of payment methods, and zero payment fees are among the reasons why King Billy Casino holds our prestigious Certificate of Trust. Besides this, King Billy is known for frequent big wins and a library of more than 2,000 games.
If you're a crypto player, another solid choice is Vavada Casino, which is famous for its fast withdrawals and high cashout limits. The website can be accessed in an impressive number of 14 languages, offering thousands of games from dozens of providers.
