Who should stop reading here
If your product includes slots, live casino, poker, a betting exchange or spread betting, Cyprus is the wrong jurisdiction. Betting Law 37(I)/2019 makes each of those a criminal offence for private operators (sections 83 to 86), with penalties up to five years or €300,000. The Cyprus Gaming and Casino Supervision Commission said in October 2025 that it is "examining" online casino, but no bill has been tabled, and the resort-casino exclusivity granted to City of Dreams is a legal obstacle nobody has resolved. Plan on sportsbook only.
The second disqualifier is geography. A Class B site must run on a .com.cy domain (section 68), keep a mirrored backup server in Cyprus (section 32(3)) and is aimed at residents of Cyprus. Unlicensed sites are ISP-blocked. Operators looking for a licence to serve Europe or LatAm from one hub should look at Malta, the Isle of Man or Gibraltar instead.
What the licence actually costs
| Item | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Licence fee, 1 year | €30,000 | NBA fee schedule, R.A.A. 84/2019 |
| Licence fee, 2 years | €45,000 | same |
| Application fee | none separately; the licence fee is paid on filing and refunded minus 25% if refused | Law s.31 |
| Paid-up share capital | €500,000 minimum | Law s.32(1) |
| Bank guarantee | €550,000, valid until six months after the licence expires; the NBA can raise it to 10% of annual turnover | Law s.32(2) |
| Betting tax | 10% of net betting revenue | Law s.74(2) |
| Contribution | 3% of net revenue (2% to sport, 1% to player-protection programmes) | Law s.74(3) |
| Corporate income tax | 15% from 1 January 2026 (was 12.5%) | Cyprus tax reform, gazetted 31 Dec 2025 |
So the money you need to have before the first bet is roughly €1.1 million locked in capital and guarantee, plus €30,000 to €45,000 in fees, plus the server and office. That is why the official register lists only 13 Class B licensees, and why they are names like bet365, Stoiximan, Novibet and Fonbet rather than start-ups.
Requirements the NBA checks
- A company limited by shares, incorporated in Cyprus or a foreign company with a registered Cyprus branch, whose main activity is betting (s.32(1)).
- Fit-and-proper review of directors, officers, beneficial owners and anyone with a significant interest: no relevant convictions, verified financial standing (s.19). Any later change of control needs prior NBA consent (s.24).
- Proof of reserves to pay out winnings, an approved accounting and control system, and player T&Cs that follow the NBA's player-protection directive (s.33).
- AML programme under NBA Directive 15.2024.v4 with a named MLRO; connection to the National Self-Exclusion Platform (Directive 18.2024); age-verification controls for minors (Directive 19.2025.v2).
- Electronic payments only. Player funds must be on account before a bet is accepted; cash is not permitted online.
- Monthly tax accounting. Tax and contribution are due by the end of the following month, with a 5% fine for late payment (s.74(4), s.75, s.76).
How long it takes
The law sets no deadline. Section 20(2) says the NBA answers "within a reasonable period". In practice two things set the pace: the NBA's review, which practitioners put at two to three months, and your own bank account and Cyprus server, which routinely take longer than the review. Three to five months end to end is a realistic plan if the corporate documents and the €550,000 guarantee are ready on day one. The licence runs for one or two years and is renewed on the same fee schedule.
Where a platform provider fits
The NBA reviews the platform, not just the company. Your application has to show the control system, the reporting that produces the monthly tax file, the self-exclusion integration and the server topology with the Cyprus mirror. We supply that part as one package with the sportsbook itself: the technical annex, the reporting module in the format the NBA expects, and the hosting layout. If you already have a platform, we audit it against the directives before you file, because a rejected application costs you 25% of the fee.
Questions operators ask
Can I use a Cyprus licence to take players from other countries?
No. The licence is domestic: .com.cy domain, Cyprus server, Cyprus-directed marketing. For other markets you need those markets' licences or an offshore licence they tolerate.
Can I offer virtual sports or esports betting?
Betting on events, including esports, falls under Class B. Casino-style virtual games that resemble slots do not. Ask the NBA in writing about any product that sits between the two before launch.
Is a foreign company acceptable?
Yes, if it registers a Cyprus branch under Part VIII of the Companies Law and its main activity is betting. Most applicants incorporate locally anyway because the bank account and the guarantee are easier to arrange.
What is the tax base?
Net betting revenue: stakes minus winnings paid. The 10% tax and the 3% contribution are both calculated on that base, monthly.
Sources
- Betting Law 37(I)/2019, English text, nba.gov.cy
- National Betting Authority: fees page, FAQ, directives list, Class B register, announcements of 8 to 10 September 2026
- Cyprus Mail, 12 December 2024 (contribution vote); 14 May 2025 (COGA formed); 17 October 2025 (online casino under examination)
- KPMG TaxNewsFlash, January 2026 (corporate tax 15% from 1 January 2026)
- SALVUS Funds, 24 June 2026; Legal Bison, 14 May 2026 (timeline estimates)