Cyprus gambling regulator warns over rise in ads for unlicensed casinos
The National Betting Authority has flagged up marketing that uses public figures.
Cyprus.- The National Betting Authority has raised concerns over an increase in the volume of advertisements for unlicensed online casinos circulating on major social media platforms. It warned that many sites advertised lack the legal authorisation to operate in the territory.
A key issue flagged is the use of public figures in promotional content, including images and videos of well-known personalities, which it claims are frequently deployed without consent and could potentially mislead viewers into assuming the platforms are legitimate.
Cypriot legislation prohibits the operation of online casinos, as outlined in the country’s regulatory framework for gambling. The regulator cautioned that engaging with illicit services carried significant risks, arguing that users may face breaches of personal and financial data, along with the possibility of monetary losses. It advised the public to exercise caution, scrutinise promotional claims, avoid interacting with dubious apps or links, and confirm a platform’s licensing status before sharing sensitive information.
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The regulator reminded users that both the official registry of licensed betting providers and the blacklist of blocked sites are publicly available on its website. It also urged people to report suspicious advertising. Past alerts have drawn attention to deceptive pages that reroute users to illegal operators.
