Cyprus — NBA (Sports Betting) licence.
Cyprus' National Betting Authority (NBA) licenses fixed-odds sports betting only — online casino remains explicitly illegal in Cyprus.
A considered route,
not a shortcut.
This jurisdiction rewards operators who treat the application as the start of a supervisory relationship.
When this is the right choice
When to consider an alternative
Permissions under
one Act.
Choosing the right tier and scope is the most consequential decision in the application.
Class B Online Bookmaker Licence
The only legal online gambling product in Cyprus. Covers remote sports betting on fixed-odds and live events for players outside Cyprus. Online casino, poker, slots, live dealer, and virtual games are explicitly prohibited under Cypriot law. The NBA will not issue a licence covering any casino product.
Cyprus Corporate Structure
A Cyprus-incorporated company (Ltd) is required — the licensee entity must be domiciled in Cyprus. Minimum paid-up share capital of €500,000. A €550,000 bank guarantee (separate from G&S fees and the NBA licence fee) must be lodged with the National Betting Authority before the licence is activated.
Phases to licence grant.
Corporate Formation
Week 1Cyprus company incorporation with €500,000 minimum paid-up capital. EU legal structure with access to EU payment processing and banking. Registered office and local company secretary appointed.
Application Preparation
Week 2–3NBA application preparation including AML/KYC policies, technical system documentation, responsible gambling framework, and fit-and-proper background checks on all directors and shareholders holding 10% or more.
NBA Submission & Review
Week 3–5Application submitted to the National Betting Authority. NBA reviews all documentation and may issue queries requiring response. 75% of the licence fee is refunded if the application is rejected.
Bank Guarantee & Licence Activation
Week 5–7€550,000 bank guarantee lodged with the NBA. Licence activated. Platform integration and technical compliance checks completed before go-live. Annual renewal obligations commence from activation date.
Cost and regulatory
burden.
Year-one spend is dominated by substance — resident director, office, compliance officer, external audit — not the licence fee itself.
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| GSS Legal — Comprehensive package (company + licence) | €70,000 one-time + €30,000/yr renewal |
| NBA government licence fee — 1-year | €30,000/yr |
| NBA government licence fee — 2-year | €45,000 (one-time for 2 years) |
| Minimum paid-up share capital (mandatory) | €500,000 |
| Bank guarantee lodged with NBA (mandatory) | €550,000 |
| Year-1 total (G&S fee + NBA fee + capital + guarantee) | From ~€1.15M |
The €500,000 share capital and €550,000 bank guarantee are mandatory government requirements — they are not included in Gofaizen & Sherle's service fee. The bank guarantee must be in place before the licence is activated. These figures reflect total capital deployment, not operating cost.
What founders
ask before filing.
The questions we get on every diagnostic call. If yours isn't here, raise it in the consultation.
Tell us where
you want to
operate.
Forty-five minutes with a partner. Jurisdiction memo within seven days. No retainer required to start.
No retainer required.