Cyprus
Because of its azure sea and the amazing nature, Cyprus is the heaven that attracts many tourists. In this Mediterranean island in Europe, one of the most popular activities has been gambling. It has been more popular especially with the Turkish majority that stays in the northern side of the country. This is where most casinos and a host of other gambling facilities and spots are found.
To add to that, Cyprus is one of the world’s recognized gambling jurisdictions, and this implies that it can grant online gambling licenses to international companies that are involved in this market.
2018 Gambling Laws in Cyprus
The first question that you need to ask yourself is if online betting is allowed in this country. And when it comes to an online casino, the bodies responsible for legalizing this activity has banned all kinds of online betting with the exception of online sports betting. This ban took effect in 2012 when the gambling laws were passed in this country.
The body that is charged with the responsibility of authorizing online gambling activities is known as the National Betting Authority – NBA. However, the country has plans of unveiling an authority that will take care of all the gaming entities that it currently has as well as other upcoming ones. It is scheduled to start its operations in the year 2020.
There are a number of laws that have been approved by the government to ensure that virtual gambling is safe. Some of them are the following: Betting Act 2012, The Prevention of Counterfeiting & Money Laundering Activities Law of 2007, The NBA Directives and Regulations, as well as the 2015’s Gambling Act among a host of other laws.
Only traditional betting bodies in the country are the ones who are offered the licenses, although this does not include those who offer betting services on horse racing. The other important factor that you should be aware of before you begin gambling on any of these sites is the gambling age that is allowed in the country.
For you to be allowed to bet, you will have to be at least 18 years. This is the minimum age that is recognized by the betting bodies. It can be remembered that in 2016, NBA, the body responsible for issuing betting licenses in Cyprus gave eight licenses to casino firms in the country. Among those who were issued with the license were Sportingbet and Winmasters. Later in March 2017, Betfair and Meridian Gaming (CY) were the next beneficiaries as NBA awarded them with operating licenses.
Popular Games & Betting
There are a number of games that are offered on Cyprus online casinos and gambling market. The best thing to do before you begin wagering on these games is to check their quality. Casino games are provided by some of the best developers such as Playtech, Evolution Gaming, Microgaming, as well as NetEnt.
Games that are offered by Playtech usually have a special quality, as they are bright with an incredible graphics that makes playing on these gambling sites one of the best experiences. For operators that consider themselves as leaders in this market, one of the options that they have to consider is the live casino option. And in this regard, the providers that have supplied their games to casinos have not disappointed.
These games meet all the quality standards that you might be looking for as a Cypriot player. The best Cyprus online casinos have all been designed with easy to navigate and sleek websites. There is also an active customer support team that will ensure that all your questions are tackled and answered as quickly as possible.
Best Deposit & Withdrawal Methods for Cyprus Casino Players
The other thing that makes Cyprus casinos the best is the fact that they offer a wide variety of payment methods to its customers. You will, therefore, be able to deposit, wager, and withdraw your winnings within the shortest time possible.
This is why gaming sites have remained attractive to Cypriot players from within and even others from other places. The approved Cyprus casinos accept both credit and debit modes of financial transaction. Bank transfers are also allowed as well as popular e-Wallets such as Neteller, Skrill and PayPal.
Besides all that, there is also a host of other local payment options that you can consider. Despite all the measures that are undertaken to assure you of your security, it is advisable that you double-check all the options lest you run risks of losing your money.
Best Online Casinos, Cyprus in 2018
Here is the recommended Cyprus online casinos list for gamblers. These gambling sites have been able to attract a huge following.
- All Slots Casino. This is one of the best Cyprus online casinos which has its software supplied by NextGen Gaming, Microgaming, Evolution Gaming, Triple Edge Studios and others. This casino that was opened in 2000 for the first time now offers more than 300 games.
- Casino Extreme. Its software is supplied by RealTime Gaming and has 100% first deposit bonus offers to its users.
- Sun Palace Casino. This is one of the leading casinos in Cyprus and prides itself with one of the best layouts that you can find around. Amazingly, it gives its players incredible 400% bonus offer on their first deposit.
- Las Vegas USA. This big name also has to feature here, as it does as much as it can to brick the Lack Vegas ambience to your online gambling space. Its signup bonus is among the best Cyprus casino bonuses which is incredible $3,000.
- Sloto’ Cash. Visionary iGaming and Real Time Gaming are the two casino software developers that have supplied Sloto’ Cash with its amazing software. There is a $5 bonus offer that awaits those who would sign up to play on this site.
Other regulated Cyprus casinos are:
- Celtic Casino
- All Star Casino
- Buzzluck Casino
- Superior Casino
- Casino Grand
- Bay Raging
- Bull Casino
Brief History of Gambling in Cyprus
It is in the year 1960 that the State Lottery in Cyprus was formed, just as soon as the country was declared free from its colonial rulers. The Betting Act was, however, passed in 2012, and that is when other games apart from online sports betting were banned by the government.
In June of 2017, the government submitted the new betting legislation that was dubbed the Betting Act 2017 to the EC and Malta for subsequent approval. There are several amendments that were contained in this document, and all were meant to create some sanity in the entire online gambling scene. The gambling market has been undergone a number of improvements to ensure that Cypriot players are offered the best services.
As noted above, one of the popular activities that have thrived well in the island of Cyprus is online casino and gambling. The laws of betting in this country have, however, been tightened only to have online sports betting as the only activity that is currently allowed. The entire gambling scene is strictly monitored to ensure that players do not carry out other illegal businesses other than betting.
Despite that online betting is banned in this country with the exception of sports betting, the passionate casino players from this country have other options to satisfy their urge for betting further. One of these is betting in other international betting firms that have also entered this market. The regulations and laws in regard to online betting are very clear, and that is one of the areas you should make a stop before you began gambling here. That is the only way you would be able to enjoy gambling here and even walk away with some of the best Cyprus casino bonuses and promotions.
As seen in a number of online casinos listed above, there are amazing bonuses that await who would choose to give these sites a try. They also have their software provided by some of the leading names. If you are considering betting in any of the Cyprus online casinos, then it is not too late; there are several online casinos to pick from.
Frequently Asked Cyprus Casino Questions
- Is online gambling legal in Cyprus?
Only online sports betting is allowed in Cyprus. - What is the minimum betting age in regulated Cyprus casinos?
18 years - What is the name of the body responsible for online betting in Cyprus?
National Betting Authority of Cyprus - Are there laws that govern online gambling in Cyprus?
Yes, there are. - Which part of Cyprus is online gambling so dominant?
The Turkish section of the island. - When was the first betting body formed in Cyprus?
1960.
