Advertising and Marketing in the Betting Industry in Cyprus

This focused course explores the legal and regulatory framework governing marketing in the betting sector in Cyprus. It trains professionals to design, assess, and implement compliant and effective advertising campaigns while avoiding NBA penalties.

Cyprus’s betting industry operates under one of the most tightly regulated advertising environments in the EU. The Betting Law of 2019, the Code of Practice on Betting Advertising, and a series of detailed NBA (National Betting Authority) directives collectively impose strict controls on how, where, and to whom betting services may be promoted. These include:

Prohibitions on targeting minors or vulnerable persons

Restrictions on aggressive, misleading, or overly promotional messaging

Requirements for transparency, responsible messaging, and content neutrality

Rules on social media, affiliate marketing, and influencer partnerships

Prior notification and compliance vetting procedures

As operators increasingly shift toward digital-first strategies, including social media campaigns, influencer marketing, affiliate collaborations, and native content, many marketing and legal teams are navigating unfamiliar legal territory, often without clear internal guidelines or formal training.

The NBA has repeatedly sanctioned licensed operators — not due to failure in gaming operations, but due
to non-compliance in advertising. Key enforcement themes include:

Misleading promotions that blur the line between advertising and editorial content

Bonus schemes that are not transparently disclosed

Indirect marketing to minors via social media placements and tone

Failure to flag marketing content as advertising on influencer posts or sponsored content

Aggressive tone in calls to action (“bet now”, “no risk”, “free win”)

Affiliate networks operating outside NBA-approved content guidelines

The result: reputational damage, fines, licence scrutiny, and regulatory distrust is particularly problematic for brands aiming to present themselves as socially responsible and sustainable.

In today’s highly scrutinised regulatory climate, teams must evolve beyond creativity they must understand the legal consequences of their work and be able to defend their campaigns under regulatory review.

This course empowers organisations to advertise effectively, legally, and ethically, helping them avoid sanctions while protecting both revenue and reputation, all essential for employers in this field.
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