Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right licence scope and leads the file all the way to the NBA decision, including banking and payment rails.
Get a betting license in Cyprus.
The EU's clean sportsbook licence: Class B online betting from the National Betting Authority - €30,000 for one year or €45,000 for two, €500,000 share capital, a €550,000 bank guarantee, and 13% total on net betting revenue (10% tax + 3% contribution). The hard boundary up front: Cyprus licenses betting, not online casino, and we map that line precisely.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Cyprus in brief
A sportsbook licence with clean edges.
Cyprus regulates betting through the National Betting Authority under the Betting Law: Class A licences cover land-based bookmaking, Class B covers online betting - sportsbook and horserace wagering offered to players in the Republic. The published mechanics are exact: a licence fee of €30,000 for one year or €45,000 for two, minimum share capital of €500,000, a bank guarantee of €550,000 from a bank operating in Cyprus or the EU, and fiscal terms of 10% betting tax on net revenue plus a 3% contribution to the Authority. Applicants may be Cypriot companies or foreign companies with a Cyprus branch whose principal activity is betting, and if an application is refused, the law refunds the fee less twenty-five percent.
The hard boundary defines the page: Cyprus does not license online casino - Class B is a betting permission, and casino-style games online sit outside the licensable perimeter. What the licence does buy is precise: EU-member licensing for a sportsbook book at predictable cost, the island's deep gaming-industry cluster (Limassol hosts some of the sector's biggest operational hubs), a familiar common-law-flavoured system in English, and a 12.5%-headline corporate environment the industry already lives in. For sportsbook-led brands, it is one of Europe's most rational point-of-consumption licences; for casino-led models, we say so plainly and route the group where casino is licensable. We build the entity or branch, the guarantee, the technical file and the NBA application end to end.
The clean EU sportsbook licence: NBA Class B - €30,000/1yr or €45,000/2yrs, €500,000 capital, €550,000 EU-bank guarantee, 10% tax + 3% contribution on net revenue. Cyprus or EU company with branch; refused fees refunded less 25%.
The hard line: betting only - online casino is not licensable. We route casino verticals where they are, and build Cyprus for the sportsbook.
The two classes
Class B online - with Class A alongside.
The Betting Law's two classes map the channel split: Class B for online betting, Class A for land-based shops. Online-first groups take B; omnichannel builds combine both.
Class B online. With Class A retail alongside.
01 - CLASS B · ONLINE BETTING
The online licence
The NBA's online permission: sportsbook and race wagering to players in Cyprus - €30,000/€45,000 fees, €500,000 capital, the €550,000 guarantee and the 13% fiscal package, engineered onto your platform.
The NBA's online permission: sportsbook and race wagering to players in Cyprus - €30,000/€45,000 fees, €500,000 capital, the €550,000 guarantee and the 13% fiscal package, engineered onto your platform.
- ✓Online sportsbook and race betting
- ✓€30,000 / 1 year · €45,000 / 2 years
- ✓€500,000 share capital
- ✓€550,000 bank guarantee
- ✓10% tax + 3% contribution on net revenue
- ✓Cyprus company or EU company + branch
02 - CLASS A · RETAIL
Land-based shopsThe retail licence
Class A for land-based bookmaking with authorised agents and premises licensing. The omnichannel companion where a retail estate matters, on the same fee schedule.
Class A land-based on the same fee schedule; agents €2k/€3k, premises per shop, first free. The omnichannel companion.
- ✓Land-based bookmaking
- ✓Same €30,000/€45,000 fee schedule
- ✓Authorised agents - €2,000/€3,000
- ✓Premises licensing per shop
- ✓First premises free of charge
- ✓Omnichannel with Class B
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. NBA fees are statutory; the capital, guarantee and technical costs are itemised in your quote.
Why Cyprus
Rational economics for the sportsbook book.
Cyprus prices an EU betting licence in round, published numbers, and hosts the industry that uses it.
✓
Published, statutory pricing
€30,000 a year, €45,000 for two, €500,000 capital, €550,000 guarantee, 13% total fiscal take. Every number is in the law, not a negotiation.Every number in the law.
✓
An EU licence for betting
Member-state licensing with EU-bank guarantees accepted. The legal standing sportsbook partners and payment rails read cleanly.For the sportsbook book.
✓
The island's gaming cluster
Limassol's operational hubs, gaming talent and service depth. The Mediterranean's working sportsbook capital in practice.The working capital.
✓
Branch-friendly entry
Foreign companies license through a Cyprus branch. Groups plug the licence into existing EU structures without full re-domiciliation.Plug into EU structures.
✓
A refund rule with teeth
Refused applications are refunded less 25%. A statutory fairness feature almost no regulator offers.Refused = fee less 25%.
✓
12.5%-grade tax environment
The corporate backdrop the industry already lives in. With the 13% betting package the only sector-specific charge.Industry's home rate.
How it compares
How Cyprus differs from other routes.
Numbers next to numbers: a betting-only EU licence at statutory prices. Casino models need a different flag.
Cyprus vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Cyprus | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Betting only - no online casino | Casino licensable elsewhere |
| Pricing | Statutory - €30k/€45k | Contributions and six-figure fees |
| Guarantee | €550,000 bank guarantee | Rarely required |
| Fiscal take | 13% of net revenue | 5-35% spread |
Scope
CyprusBetting only - no online casino
Other jurisdictionsCasino licensable elsewhere
Pricing
CyprusStatutory - €30k/€45k
Other jurisdictionsContributions and six-figure fees
Guarantee
Cyprus€550,000 bank guarantee
Other jurisdictionsRarely required
Fiscal take
Cyprus13% of net revenue
Other jurisdictions5-35% spread
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | NBA Class B betting | 10% + 3% net revenue | €500k capital, €550k guarantee |
 Malta | MGA B2C - all verticals | 5% eff. + contributions | €100k/€40k capital |
 Estonia | Activity licence + permits | 6% GGR · 0% retained | €1M capital, EMTA integration |
 Sweden | Spelinspektionen licences | 22% GGR | SEK 230k fee, Spelpaus |
CyprusLicense typeNBA Class B betting
Taxation10% + 3% net revenue
Requirements€500k capital, €550k guarantee
MaltaLicense typeMGA B2C - all verticals
Taxation5% eff. + contributions
Requirements€100k/€40k capital
EstoniaLicense typeActivity licence + permits
Taxation6% GGR · 0% retained
Requirements€1M capital, EMTA integration
SwedenLicense typeSpelinspektionen licences
Taxation22% GGR
RequirementsSEK 230k fee, Spelpaus
Before you apply
Requirements for the Cyprus licence.Requirements for the licence.
The NBA licenses capitalised, guaranteed bookmakers with betting as their business. The checklist below is what a passing application contains.
01
Eligible company. Cypriot, or foreign with a Cyprus branch, with betting services as the principal activity.
02
Share capital - €500,000 minimum, evidenced at application.
03
Bank guarantee - €550,000 from a bank operating in Cyprus or an EU member state.
04
Clean ownership. Shareholders and UBOs vetted, with source-of-funds evidence.
05
Fit-and-proper management. Directors and key people with verifiable records.
06
Business plan. The sportsbook model, markets and projections the Authority can interrogate.
07
Technical file. Platform, odds and player systems documented to NBA requirements.
08
Player protection. Self-exclusion, limits and responsible-betting tools engineered in.
09
AML/CFT programme. Cyprus law compliance with named officers.
10
Fiscal machinery. The 10% + 3% net-revenue calculation and payment calendar owned from day one.
01
Cyprus company or EU branch.
02
Betting as principal activity.
03
€500,000 capital evidenced.
04
€550,000 EU-bank guarantee.
05
UBOs vetted, funds sourced.
06
Fit-and-proper management.
07
Technical file to NBA standard.
08
Player protection engineered.
09
AML with named officers.
10
13% fiscal machinery owned.
Reflects the Betting Law and NBA practice as of 2026. Fees and guarantees are statutory.Betting Law + NBA practice, as of 2026.
How it works
From first call to the NBA register.
01
Scope and structure
Class B (and A where retail matters), entity or branch. Fixed in writing before any drafting.B (and A) - fixed.
02
Capital and guarantee
€500,000 capitalised and the €550,000 guarantee issued by a Cyprus/EU bank.Stack arranged.
03
The application
Corporate, technical and conduct documentation. Complete at filing with the statutory fee.Complete, statutory fee.
04
NBA review
Question rounds answered. With the 25%-retention refund rule if refused, and our files built not to need it.Rounds answered.
05
Licence and launch
Register entry, fiscal calendar live. An EU sportsbook licence at statutory cost.Fiscal calendar on.
Quick facts
RegulatorNBA
LicenceClass B online betting
Fee - 1 year€30,000
Fee - 2 years€45,000
Share capital€500,000
Bank guarantee€550,000
Fiscal take10% + 3% net revenue
Online casinoNot licensable
Cyprus licenses sportsbooks at statutory prices and draws the casino line clearly. Building to both facts is the entire game, and our job.
On the ground in Cyprus
Run from our Nicosia office.
Prifinance - Cyprus
Nicosia · Cyprus
Nicosia, Cyprus
01
Entity or branch
Cyprus company or EU-company branch structured for the licence. With betting as the documented principal activity.Built for the licence.
02
Capital and guarantee
The €500,000 capital and €550,000 EU-bank guarantee arranged properly. The entry stack handled as banking work.Banking work, done.
03
The NBA file
Application, technical documentation and policies drafted end to end, and defended through the Authority's rounds.Complete, defended.
04
The full map
Betting versus casino boundaries documented for your product, and the group routed where each vertical is licensable.Betting vs casino, routed.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Roseni 13
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Istanbul
Turkey
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Good to know
Taxation of betting operators in Cyprus.
A flat 13% package on net betting revenue. Inside the corporate environment the industry already calls home.
Betting tax 10%
10% of net betting revenue to the state. The sector's principal charge, calculated and paid on the NBA's calendar.On net revenue.
NBA contribution 3%
A further 3% of net revenue funds the Authority - 13% total, flat and predictable.13% total, flat.
Corporate tax 12.5%
Cyprus's headline corporate rate applies to entity profits. The environment gaming groups already operate in (2026 reform steps it to 15% for large groups).15% large groups 2026.
EU guarantee economics
The €550,000 guarantee is a banking cost, not a tax. Priced as a facility and structured with EU banks.Banking cost, priced.
No sector VAT drag
Betting services sit outside VAT in the standard case. Margins stay clean of indirect tax.Outside scope.
Treaty network 65+
Cyprus's treaty base. The group above the licensee models cleanly across Europe and beyond.Clean group above.
Tax summary
Betting tax10% net revenue
NBA contribution3% net revenue
Corporate tax12.5% · 15% large groups
VAT on bettingOutside scope
Tax treaties65+
*As of 2026 per the Betting Law and Cyprus tax legislation. Group and founder-level outcomes are modelled per structure.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the application file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: Cyprus company, AML/KYC policy pack, capital structure and tax registrations. His document sets are the reason reviews finish in months, not years.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
First point of contact for international founders. Runs the whole setup remotely, across time zones and languages - from the first call to a live, licensed bookmaker.
Follow Prifinance
Active across our channels.
Cyprus · NBA
Launch your betting project in Cyprus with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from entity or branch and the guarantee to the Class B application, technical file and fiscal calendar - run through our Nicosia office.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is Cyprus the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Cyprus betting licence: the practical answers.
What licences does Cyprus issue for gambling?+
The National Betting Authority issues Class A licences for land-based bookmaking and Class B for online betting - sportsbook and race wagering. Online casino is not licensable in Cyprus; that boundary shapes every build.
What does a Class B licence cost?+
Statutory fees: €30,000 for one year or €45,000 for two, plus €500,000 minimum share capital and a €550,000 bank guarantee from a bank operating in Cyprus or the EU. Authorised agents run €2,000/€3,000.
Can a foreign company apply?+
Yes - a company established abroad qualifies through a Cyprus branch, with betting services as its principal activity. Groups typically plug the licence into an existing EU structure; we build the branch correctly.
How is Cypriot betting taxed?+
10% betting tax on net revenue plus a 3% contribution to the Authority - 13% total - inside Cyprus's 12.5% corporate environment (stepping to 15% for large groups under the 2026 reform).
Can I offer casino games under Class B?+
No - Class B covers betting only. Casino-led models need a different flag (Malta, Estonia, the Isle of Man or Curaçao depending on markets), and we route the group cleanly - sportsbook under Cyprus, casino where it is licensable.
What is the bank guarantee for?+
Player and fiscal protection: €550,000 from a Cyprus or EU bank, maintained through the licence. We arrange it as a banking facility - priced, negotiated and renewed properly.
How long does licensing take?+
Realistically 4-8 months including the entity or branch, capital, guarantee and the NBA's question rounds - a complete technical file is the speed lever.
What happens if an application is refused?+
The statute refunds the licence fee less twenty-five percent - a fairness rule almost unique among regulators. Our files are built not to test it.
Cyprus or Malta for a sportsbook?+
Malta licenses every vertical at higher running cost; Cyprus prices a betting-only licence in round statutory numbers with a working industry cluster. Sportsbook-led brands often choose Cyprus and add casino flags where needed - we model the stack.
Why Prifinance for Cyprus?+
A Nicosia office, the capital-and-guarantee stack handled as banking work, precise casino/betting mapping and NBA files built complete - statutory pricing met with statutory-grade preparation.
What classes?+
A retail · B online betting.
Cost?+
€30k/1yr · €45k/2yrs.
Foreign holder?+
Yes - Cyprus branch.
Taxes?+
10% + 3% net revenue.
Casino?+
Not licensable - routed.
Guarantee?+
€550k, Cyprus/EU bank.
How long?+
4-8 months realistic.
If refused?+
Refund less 25%.
Or Malta?+
Betting-only vs all-vertical.
Why you?+
Statutory-grade preparation.
Client notes
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One message away from your Cyprus betting licence.
Get a free legal opinion on your project - our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which Cyprus route fits your project and what it will cost.
✓Written legal opinion within 2-5 business days - free of charge✓A clear recommendation on the right licence scope, not a sales pitch✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU · ES speaking team
Prifinance is an independent law and advisory firm. We are not a regulator and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the National Betting Authority (NBA) or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.