Newsroom
Cyprus' betting industry continued to expand during the opening three months of 2026, with players wagering more than €360 million through licensed land-based and online operators.
Figures released by the National Betting Authority show total gross betting revenue reached €360.1 million between January and March, an increase of 12 per cent compared with the first quarter of 2025.
The strongest growth came from the online sector. Licensed online betting operators generated €273 million, up 17 per cent year on year. In contrast, revenue from licensed betting shops slipped slightly by 1 per cent to €87.1 million.
Punters received €314.2 million in winnings during the quarter, also representing a 12 per cent annual increase. Betting companies retained €45.9 million in revenue after payouts, an improvement of 11 per cent from the same period last year.
The number of licensed betting shops across Cyprus edged up to 459, a rise of 1 per cent, while employment in the sector grew by 10 per cent to 1,529 workers.
The National Betting Authority also continued its campaign against illegal gambling websites. By the end of the first quarter, its blacklist contained 22,415 unlicensed websites, including 406 added during the three-month period. That figure is 5 per cent higher than the number of sites blocked during the corresponding quarter of 2025.
