Cyprus Gambling License
Gateway to a Regulated EU Betting Market with Competitive Setup.
ADVANTAGES
European Union Jurisdiction
EU Member State status inspires confidence among payment providers and customers and ensures compliance with EU anti-money laundering and data protection standards.
Efficient Licensing Timeline
The application review period in Cyprus is relatively short – often 2–3 months for initial approval. This means you can launch operations faster than in many larger jurisdictions. The National Betting Authority’s straightforward procedures, combined with NUR Legal’s guidance, help minimize delays.
Betting Focus
Cyprus offers licensing specifically for sports betting (online and landbased), making it an attractive choice for bookmakers. Class A for retail betting, Class B for online betting.
Moderate Requirements & Tax Regime
While Cyprus does mandate substantial capitalization (e.g. €500,000 share capital) and a bank guarantee, it does not require maintaining a full local staff or office beyond a local corporate presence. Corporate tax is a business-friendly 12.5%, and gambling profits are not subject to exorbitant special taxes.
WHY CYPRUS?
Cyprus’s geographical location and business culture make it a bridge between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Operating from Cyprus, you gain a base in an English-speaking, business-friendly environment with a strong legal system (rooted in common law) that protects investments and intellectual property.
REQUIREMENTS
Local Incorporation and Substance
The applicant must be a Cyprus-registered company or a foreign company with a branch in Cyprus that has a physical presence. Although the law does not strictly require local directors, having at least one director resident in Cyprus greatly facilitates communication with regulators.
The company’s shares must be registered — anonymous or bearer shares are not allowed — to ensure transparency of ownership. If a foreign parent company is used, it must register a branch in Cyprus and comply with the same capital and guarantee requirements as a local entity.
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Financial Guarantees and Capitalization
Cyprus mandates a substantial financial commitment to ensure operator solvency and responsibility. The applicant must have issued and paid-up share capital of at least €500,000, which serves as a financial buffer for operations.
Additionally, a bank guarantee of €550,000 is required. This guarantee covers the payment of player winnings, taxes, and regulatory fees in the event of operator default. It must be issued by a bank located in Cyprus or any other EU member state and must remain valid for six months beyond the license’s expiration.
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Fit and Proper & Personal Disclosures
All directors, ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs), and controlling persons of the applicant company must pass a “fit and proper” test. This includes providing:
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Police clearance certificates (showing no criminal records, particularly in fraud or gambling)
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Affidavits of good character
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Detailed CVs
The National Betting Authority (NBA) assesses whether any individuals have previously been associated with revoked licenses or bankruptcies due to mismanagement. Persons with certain criminal convictions are prohibited from holding significant interests in a licensee. NUR Legal assists in compiling and notarizing all required personal documentation.
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Operational and Technical Requirements
Applicants for a Class B (online) license must operate a secure and compliant betting platform. Although pre-licensing lab certification of software is not required, the NBA expects proof that the betting software is robust and fully compliant with regulations.
An offline backup server located in Cyprus is mandatory for online betting operators. This server must mirror all betting transactions in real-time and be accessible by the NBA for audit purposes.
The platform must also include:
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Strong KYC functionalities (enforcing age restrictions and handling self-exclusion)
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A designated Money Laundering Compliance Officer
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Trained staff in AML and responsible gambling procedures
Ongoing Obligations
Maintaining the license requires ongoing regulatory compliance. Obligations include:
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Paying an annual supervision fee (starting from €2,000) to the NBA
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Filing quarterly betting activity reports and an annual report
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Contributing a portion of monthly net profits (e.g. 3%) as a levy, divided between the state and responsible gambling programs
Even though these are post-licensing requirements, demonstrating a plan for fulfilling them is essential during the application phase. This includes having in place:
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Accounting systems
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Internal controls
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Mechanisms for record-keeping, regulatory reporting, and player dispute resolution
PROCEDURE
The process of obtaining a gambling license in Estonia involves the following steps as outlined by the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (ETCB)
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Company Formation in Cyprus
The licensing process begins with establishing a Cyprus company limited by shares. Only such a company — either newly incorporated in Cyprus or a foreign company with a registered branch in Cyprus — is eligible for a betting license.
We will register your company in Cyprus, ensuring the minimum share capital of €500,000 is in place and that constitutional documents restrict the business solely to betting operations. We also assist in opening a corporate bank account in Cyprus, which is necessary for capital deposits and financial assurances.
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Pre-Application Preparations
Before submitting the license application, several key steps are required. NUR Legal helps secure a €550,000 Bank Guarantee from a bank located in Cyprus or within the EU. This guarantee must be valid throughout the license period plus six months and serves as a financial safety net for player payouts and tax obligations.
In parallel, we draft internal policies, including:
• AML policy
• Betting rules
• Terms of service
• Many more
We also gather due diligence documents for all directors, shareholders, and key personnel, such as identification documents, police clearance certificates, and financial references. All documents must be in English or Greek; NUR Legal provides official translations where necessary.
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Application Submission to NBA
We prepare and submit the formal application to the National Betting Authority (NBA), specifying the license type: Class A (land-based), Class B (online), or both. For online licenses, the application includes details about your betting platform, software providers, and website URL.
The submission package includes:
• The bank guarantee
• Proof of paid application fee (€30,000 for a one-year Class B license)
• Certified copies of corporate documents
• Personal affidavits and certifications
NUR Legal Team ensures your application is complete and compliant with Section 30 of the Betting Law of 2012.
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Regulatory Review (2–3 months)
The NBA conducts a comprehensive review over 60 to 90 days. This includes background checks and evaluation of your business plan and technical setup. One critical requirement for online operators is a real-time mirrored backup server located in Cyprus, accessible to the NBA for monitoring.
During this review, NUR Legal handles all follow-up queries and facilitates communication with Cypriot authorities, including any interviews or presentations requested by the NBA.
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Grant of License & Setup
If approved, the NBA grants a one-year or two-year betting license. NUR Legal assists with paying the license issuance fee (€30,000 for one year or €45,000 for two years for a Class B license).
Once the license is issued, we help with final operational steps, including:
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Activating the NBA-connected backup server
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Integrating required betting monitoring software
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Publishing license details and responsible gaming information on your website
We also guide you through registering with the Cypriot tax authorities for the annual supervision fee and establishing the required contribution to the Responsible Gaming Fund, a small percentage of monthly revenue.
With the license in hand, your company is fully authorized to operate under Cyprus’s legal framework. NUR Legal remains available for all ongoing compliance support.
OUR OFFERS
NUR Legal provides an end-to-end service package to streamline the complex Cyprus licensing process.
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For those still evaluating the regulatory landscape, we offer a comprehensive Legal Opinion that assesses answers all of your questions in legal aspect before moving forward.
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For clients ready to proceed, we deliver a full-scope package that includes everything necessary to start your gambling business.
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Full package Licensing
Obtaining Cypriot Gaming license is complex, but our firm provides end-to-end legal and consulting support to streamline the journey.
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Local company registration and corporate structuring
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Name approval and Memorandum drafting for gambling focus
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Registered office setup and nominee arrangements if needed
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Bank account opening, capital deposit, and guarantee coordination
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Full application dossier preparation for Class A and/or B licenses
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Drafting of business plan, AML/CFT policies, and betting T&Cs
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Completion and notarisation of disclosure forms for stakeholders
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Detailed annexes covering risk strategy, trading, and platform setup
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Application submission and communication with the NBA
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Representation in regulator meetings and site visits coordination
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Proactive response to NBA queries and review process guidance
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Backup server setup and data compliance in licensed data centers
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Drafting ISP agreements and ensuring NBA connectivity standards
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Website compliance setup with NBA disclosures and responsible gambling links
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Support with bank guarantee renewals and term adjustments​
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Legal monitoring for changes in Cyprus gambling regulations
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Assistance in handling disputes, complaints, and legal representation
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And more — full-spectrum of legal, regulatory, and operational support
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Cyprus regulates gambling through the Betting Law of 2012 (Law 106(I)/2012 and its amendments) and oversight is carried out by the National Betting Authority (NBA). The framework in Cyprus is focused primarily on betting activities. There are two main classes of licenses: Class A for land-based sports betting (at physical premises) and Class B for online sports betting. Notably, Cyprus does not currently license online casino games or poker – online slot and casino operations remain prohibited except through the state lottery or other exempt provisions. This means the Cyprus Class B license is essentially a sports (and other fixed-odds betting) license for online platforms, excluding games of chance like roulette or blackjack.
Under Cyprus law, a Class B online betting license is granted for one or two years at a time, at the operator’s choice. After this period, the operator can apply for renewal, and the NBA will re-evaluate compliance and can renew the license if all conditions are continually met. During the license period, the NBA has the authority to audit operations, and the law mandates things like the maintenance of the bank guarantee and minimum capital throughout. The NBA also requires immediate notification of any substantial changes (ownership changes, key personnel changes, etc.), and it has the power to revoke a license if an operator is found non-compliant or insolvent.
A significant aspect of Cyprus’s framework is the player fund protection via the bank guarantee. The €550,000 guarantee must remain in place specifically to cover player balances, winnings, taxes, and potential fines. This mechanism, coupled with ongoing reporting, places Cyprus among jurisdictions that prioritize financial responsibility of operators. Players in Cyprus can thus verify an operator’s license on the NBA’s website (the NBA publishes a register of licensed Class A and Class B operators ), and they have avenues for complaints to the NBA if issues arise.
OUR SERVICES
Ready to pursue a Cypriot gambling license? Contact us for tailored legal guidance and a smooth licensing process in Cyprus.
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At NUR Legal, our services encompass:
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Regulatory Consultation
Assessing the best jurisdiction and license type for your business.​
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Documentation Assistance
Preparing and reviewing all necessary documents.​
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Application Management
Handling the submission and liaison with regulatory bodies.​
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Post-Licensing Support
Ensuring ongoing compliance and addressing any regulatory updates.
