The National Betting Authority (NBA) is a regulatory authority with financial independence and autonomy and is responsible for the regulation and supervision of betting activity within the Republic of Cyprus. The Authority was established in 2012 and is governed by the Betting Law 37 (I) 2019 (hereinafter “Law”) as a legal entity of public law.
The competences of the Authority are defined by the Law as follows:
(a) to prepare draft regulations which shall be submitted via the Minister to the Council of Ministers;
(b) to prepare and issue Authority regulations and Directives on the improved implementation of the present Law. These Directives are binding, and their implementation is mandatory for the persons they are addressed to and the Authority shall oversee their implementation by Class A or B licensed bookmakers and authorised agents;
(c) to issue Directives to Class A or B licensed bookmakers and authorised agents and holders of premises licences concerning the implementation of preventive measures to combat money laundering, in accordance with the Law on the Prevention and Suppression of Money Laundering Activities, in collaboration with the Advisory Authority for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, which is provided for in the said Laws. These Directives are binding, and their implementation is mandatory for the persons they are addressed to and the Authority shall oversee their implementation by Class A or B licensed bookmakers and authorised agents;
(d) to carry out suitable checks and in general to supervise the holders of Class A or B bookmakers licences, authorised agent licenses and premises licenses in order to ascertain that they are complying with the conditions laid down in their licenses, the provisions of the present Law, the regulations and the Directives issued by the Authority;
(e) to examine applications for Class A and B bookmakers licenses, authorised representatives and licences for premises and to issue the respective licenses, in accordance with Parts III and IV;
(f) to carry out inspections of unlicensed premises, in collaboration with the competent prosecution authorities and to obtain the necessary court orders to close premises for which there are reasonable grounds to believe that illegal betting is conducted or other offences are committed, as specified in Articles 79, 83, 84, 85, 86 and 87;
(g) in general, to oversee and supervise the market and, in collaboration with the prosecution authorities, to suppress illegal bets or other related offences committed by any person;
(h) to define, through Authority regulations, the procedure for submitting complaints and for the examining of such complaints by the Authority regarding a Class A or B licensed bookmaker or authorised agent or premises licence holder;
(i) to collaborate and discuss with national organising authorities and international organisations in relation to betting regulation issues;
(j) to collaborate and discuss with international organisations issues relating to the protection of young people and vulnerable groups from betting and to implement specific prevention and protection measures;
(k) to collaborate and engage in dialogue with various organisations and public services to ensure proper and effective implementation of the provisions of the present Law, including the option to set up advisory committees;
(l) to prepare the Authority’s opinions on issues of compliance with the Law and to notify its views to licensed bookmakers concerned;
(m) to draft and maintain a betting advertising code of practice;
(n) to evaluate the results of the tax regime on betting and to make relevant recommendations;
(o) to prepare recommendations on amendments needed to the existing legislation concerning betting and related sectors;
(p) to prepare studies at regular intervals, to consult with the citizens on the impact of betting on young people, vulnerable groups and the general public, and to frequently submit recommendations to the competent services regarding the measures to be taken for the protection of young people, vulnerable groups and the general public;
(q) to issue regulations and Directives on how to protect young people and pathological players, with the possibility to consider in advance the views of other competent agencies or other stakeholders to that end;
(r) to monitor developments relating to illegal bets, to prepare statistical studies and to draw up recommendations to eliminate such betting;
(s) to inform internet service providers through electronic means about all website addresses providing betting services not covered by a Class B bookmaker’s licence and/or services prohibited by the present Law;
(t) to collect the contribution paid by Class A or B licensed bookmakers, in accordance with Part VIII; and
(u) to impose sanctions on any person who violates the provisions of the present Law.
