Cyprus Casinos
While Cyprus passed laws to make land-based gambling legal in 2012, the online gambling landscape in Cyprus is still quite fragmented. For instance, sports betting sites are legal, but virtually no forms of online casino gambling are (save for a single state monopoly).
This presents Cypriots with a dilemma. If they want to bet online, but it is technically illegal, where and how can they get a slice of online casino action? Fortunately, our team has the answers you are looking for. If you want to learn how to bet online in Cyprus and what you can wager on, you’ve come to the right place. Allow us to introduce you to some of the best real money online casinos for Cypriot players below.
Best Real Money Online Casinos for Cypriot Players
Is It Legal to Gamble Online in Cyprus?
While Cyprus is recognised as a single country (the Republic of Cyprus), 40% of the island is run with Turkish backing and called the Republic of Northern Cyprus. Meanwhile, the other 60% is an EU country and adheres to the rules of the European Union (predominantly the European Commission). This makes passing any sort of law that governs the entire island tricky. That is particularly true for gambling laws, given that 40% of the population are Muslim, a faith that prohibits gambling.
With it not being possible to play at legit Cyprus online casinos, you are going to need to find an alternative way to bet online. One of the ways that you can do this is through offshore casinos, and we’ve got all the information you need to be able to do that below. Let us begin by looking at each type of online gambling site and what it means for Cypriot players who want to play there.
Online Casino
There are no legit Cypriot online casinos, apart from one recently launched domain run by the much-untrusted state monopoly. This naturally means that you need to head to offshore casinos to engage in online casino gambling. If you were to do this in the northern part of the country, you could be in for repercussions. However, if you’re based in the part of Cyprus that is a member of the European Union, things are much more straightforward.
Cyprus doesn’t punish its citizens for visiting offshore casinos, even if doing so is frowned upon. Because of this, many Cypriot players head to foreign, international casinos – predominantly those based elsewhere in the EU and the United Kingdom – to wager online. This is an option you may wish to consider, and you can find many of these top almost-legit Cyprus casinos right here on this page. As of 2021, OPAP (the state monopoly) has the country’s very first online casino, but it offers next to nothing in terms of quality.
Online Poker
You can play legal poker in Cyprus if you head to one of Cyprus’ licensed land-based casinos. Games include table poker and video poker. There are no legal internet poker rooms in Cyprus and given that online casinos are out of the question, too, you’d need to head to an offshore casino to play poker online.
Online Sports Betting
Sports betting (oddly enough) is legal in Cyprus, even online sports betting. Operators require a license however they wish to deliver those services. The Betting Law of 2012 makes it clear that land-based operators must have a Class A license, while a Class B license is required for online sports betting.
Horse racing is exempt from this and is run by the state monopoly, Nicosia Race Club. Betting on dog races is illegal, and naturally, all forms of blood sports are deemed to be animal cruelty under EU law and are naturally banned. As with the other betting sites, there is no penalty if Cypriots want to head to offshore and international sportsbooks instead.
Online Lottery
Cyprus has had a national lottery since 1973, although it falls under the jurisdiction of another state monopoly, OPAP. This is the same organisation that was criticised in Greece for being corrupt, and there is reason to believe that OPAP in Cyprus is no better. OPAP offers both online and land-based lottery games.
Online Bingo
Bingo games are legal in licensed casinos, and there are also bingo halls in the country where you can wager. Online bingo is technically deemed illegal in Cyprus, but again, EU law prevents the country from punishing its nationals and residents who visit offshore bingo rooms, so these are an option you may wish to consider if you want to play online bingo.
History of Gambling in Cyprus
Throughout much of its history, gambling has been illegal in Cyprus. Virtually no forms of gambling were legal, although there were exceptions. Join us as we chart the gambling history of Cyprus below.
- 1973: OPAP formed the very first lottery in Cyprus. It continues to this day but is not much liked by the population.
- 2012: Cyprus passed its Betting Law of 2012. The law has been amended many times since but established that land-based gambling (excluded casinos) would become legal regulated. Furthermore, it announced that online sports betting would be legal, assuming the operator obtained a license from the Cypriot authorities.
- 2013: The Betting Law of 2012 is deemed unfair by the European Union. As a result, Cyprus agreed not to prosecute players who signed up and played at foreign sites.
- 2015: The Betting Law of 2012 was amended to permit land-based casino gambling.
- 2021: The state monopoly, OPAP, was given permission to launch the country’s first online casino. However, OPAP is not trusted and is thought of as corrupt, so many Cypriots continue to wager at offshore and international online casinos.
Is It Safe to Gamble at a Cypriot Online Casino?
Because Cyprus does not authorise online casino gambling (save for the one, much untrusted OPAP site), you often need to venture further offshore to find top betting sites to join. This can make finding safe online casinos in Cyprus troublesome for players. Fortunately, our team knows what to look for.
We strongly recommend joining EU or UK licensed casinos that cater to Cypriots. These include those licensed out of Malta, Gibraltar, and the United Kingdom. They are all heavily regulated and offer player protections, such as responsible gambling tools. Any of these sites should fit the bill nicely, and you can rest assured that you are playing in a safe and secure domain.
How to Choose the Best Online Casino?
Our online gambling reviews are ideal for Cyprus’ players to look at. Each of our recommended sites has a wealth of games, great bonuses, superb support and is known for being licensed, regulated, and offer the necessary player protections you want to see in top Cypriot casinos, even if they are based offshore and internationally.
Our team has put in the hours to ensure that we only represent the most trusted online casinos for Cypriot players. Next, we will walk you through some of the most important aspects Cypriot casinos must have if they want to feature at our site and have us recommend them to you. They include:
Casino Bonuses
It is worth avoiding choosing a Cyprus casino solely on the size of the bonuses it offers. Instead, there are other things to consider. For instance, you may wish to check out the array of offers available, and more importantly, what games you can use them on. Checking the terms and conditions for fair, balanced, and transparent bonuses is also well worth doing, and it is something our team covers in our reviews.
Games and Software
The state monopoly (OPAP) endorsed casino features very little in terms of games. However, our recommended offshore Cypriot casinos can offer you a wealth of different types of games from many providers. This should cater to all players – whether they want to splash the cash or be more conservative in how they wager.
The Reputation of the Casino
The reputation of the Cypriot casino you want to play at matters. Therefore, we only recommend licensed, audited, and regulated casinos. These sites will offer you player protections such as responsible gambling tools like deposit and wager caps, opt-outs and self-exclusion periods, reality checks and more. Moreover, all their games will be RNG certified.
Casino Customer Support
Cypriot players may not necessarily speak English or Greek. They may also speak Turkish or another language. Therefore, it is important that support options at Cyprus’ casinos cover lots of options, as well as various ways to obtain help, such as live chat, e-mail and possibly even telephone support methods.
Payment Methods
Cyprus uses the euro, so you’re going to want to see that offered as a currency option. However, you’ll also want a good array of payments, from e-wallets to bank cards and transfers, prepaid options, and others. Furthermore, it helps if a casino can provide you with low to no fees and fast transaction times, as well as fair transaction limits. Our casinos do that.
Online Casino Games Available for Cypriot Players
When you opt to play with our online casinos that accept Cypriot players, you can find a wealth of new online casino games for players in Cyprus, but also golden oldies, including the best online casino games Cyprus, has to offer. Here are a few of the things we look for:
- A wealth of titles from many different providers;
- RNG (random number generator) certified games;
- Games that can be played with euros;
- Mobile-friendly games;
- Casino games games that can be played for free in a demo mode;
- A top selection of live dealer and table games, alongside slots.
Online Slots
OPAP’s state monopoly site doesn’t have much in the way of online slots for Cyprus players to enjoy. However, if you visit our recommended offshore casinos, you’ll find a wealth of slot machines in Cyprus coming from many developers, some of which include progressive prizes.
Online Blackjack
It is possible to blackjack online for real money in Cyprus, but only if you head to an international online casino or the state monopoly’s website. Games at the latter are limited, but you can find over a dozen of them with our casinos.
Online Roulette
We’ve got a top selection of the best online roulette gambling sites for players in Cyprus. They can offer American, European, and French roulette variants, as well as live dealer titles.
Live Dealer Games
Our selection of live casinos online for Cyprus-based players include baccarat, blackjack, and roulette games, but also money-wheel, dice, number-based and poker games, all played with a real-to-life human dealer.
Other Online Casino Games
What if you fancy something different? Our Cyprus-friendly casinos also provide video poker, scratch cards, bingo, keno, instant win titles, craps, Sic Bo, Andar Bahar, Teen Patti and more.
Most Popular Casino Software in Cyprus
It is true that OPAP’s state-licensed online casino’s games selection pales in comparison to the best Microgaming casinos catering to Cyprus or the best offshore NetEnt casinos Cyprus’ players can join. If you head to our recommended casinos, you can expect to see games from the following developers:
- Ainsworth
- Amaya Gaming (Chartwell)
- BetSoft Gaming
- Booongo
- Evolution Gaming
- GTS
- Microgaming
- NetEnt
- NYX Interactive
- OnGame
- Play’n Go
- Playtech
- Quickspin
- Saucify
- Thunderkick
Banking Information for Cypriot Players
Before signing up to any online casino catering to Cypriots, you should ensure that it can offer the following things:
- Deposit options that accept the euro currency;
- Low to no fees on withdrawals;
- Instant deposit times and fast withdrawal options;
- Low minimum deposit and withdrawal limits;
- High maximum deposit and withdrawal limits;
- A KYC process to protect against identity fraud, money laundering and underage gambling.
If you want to play at a Cyprus online casino and use PayPal, you’ll likely need to head to UK licensed sites. However, playing at an online casino in Cyprus and using VISA is possible at most sites. Here is a quick look at the types of payment options you have open to you:
- Bank Transfers
- EcoPayz
- MasterCard and Maestro
- Neosurf
- PayPal
- Neteller
Paysafecard - Skrill
- VISA
Cryptocurrencies
Cyprus’ gambling laws don’t mention cryptocurrencies. However, we can assume that crypto gambling is technically illegal since OPAP’s website doesn’t accept them. Perks to use cryptos like BTC, ETH, BCH, USDT, LTC and DOGE at offshore sites include:
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Better anonymity when betting at international casinos;
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Faster transaction times;
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The chance to cut down on transaction fees;
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A dedicated array of crypto bonuses.
Cyprus Gambling Apps
You shouldn’t need online gambling apps to play in Cyprus. Most mobile casinos in Cyprus use HTML5 to design their websites, and this makes them friendly for all iOS and Android tablet and smartphone bettors. You may even be able to claim specific mobile casino bonuses or use pay-by-mobile options.
Cyprus’ Online Casino Bonuses & Promo Codes
The best bonus online casinos in Cyprus won’t just be those that offer you a big stack of cash. Similarly, the worst ones won’t necessarily be those Cyprus online casinos that use bonus codes to trigger offers. Instead, it is best to look at the terms and conditions of each offer. Features such as wagering requirements, minimum deposit limits, maximum wager caps and more all tell you far more about a bonus’ fairness than the sum of money it offers.
Fortunately, you don’t have to spend hours doing this homework for yourself. Our team has already done it. Head over to our Cyprus casino reviews section, and you’ll find Cypriot casinos that offer the very best (and fairest) promotions around. If you are new to betting with casino bonuses, allow us to introduce you to some of the most common ones below:
No Deposit Bonuses
No deposit casino bonuses in Cyprus are relatively the same as you’ll find anywhere else. They let you claim a small sum of cash or free spins without having to make a deposit. This allows you to join new Cyprus no deposit casinos and gamble for free, without risk. You could even end up winning a small sum of real money for yourself with these deals.
Deposit Match
A first deposit bonus is conventional at casinos in Cyprus and everywhere else in the world, for that matter. They allow you to receive a chunk of change when you deposit for the first time. The best Cyprus online casinos will be those with low deposit terms on these offers, but also those with minimal wagering requirements and no maximum win caps.
Free Spins
Snapping up an online casino free signup bonus with no deposit required from Cyprus will usually see you claim free spins. These can be used to spin slots’ reels for free with the potential to win real money. They should also come with low wagering requirements but may have win caps in place.
Reload Bonuses
Reload bonuses are another of the most popular options you can find at Cypriot casinos. These will provide you with free cash when you deposit (much like welcome bonuses) and may or may not include free spins. Again, the key to claiming a quality bonus is to look at the terms and conditions that apply to the offer before claiming it.
FAQs
Before you choose one of our recommended Cypriot casinos, be sure that you understand how betting in Cyprus works with this handy but concise FAQ guide.
