Breaking news

Cyprus Betting Market Reaches New Heights In Q4 2025

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

May 12, 2026

Robust Growth Amidst Market Expansion

Cyprus’s betting sector recorded strong growth during the fourth quarter of 2025, with gross revenue from Class A and Class B operators increasing 22% year-on-year to €395.5 million, compared with €323.2 million during the same period in 2024. The results reflected continued expansion across both online and land-based betting activity, with digital platforms maintaining the strongest momentum throughout the quarter.

Differentiated Performance Between Online And Land-Based Operators

Online betting operators continued dominating the market, with Class B operators generating €301.5 million in revenue compared with €94.1 million from Class A land-based betting shops. According to the National Betting Authority, revenue from Class A operators increased 9% quarter-on-quarter and 4% year-on-year, while Class B operators recorded significantly stronger growth, rising 27% compared with Q4 2024 and 28% compared with Q4 2023. The figures further highlighted the sector’s continued shift toward online betting platforms.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Player Payouts And Earnings Analysis

Player payouts across both categories reached €348.2 million during the quarter, representing a 25% increase year-on-year, with online betting accounting for €271.5 million of the total. Across the full year, payouts increased to €1.17 billion, up 9% compared with 2024. At the same time, the gap between player pay-ins and payouts, reflecting betting earnings, widened to €47.4 million in Q4 from €45.5 million a year earlier. While earnings from Class A operators declined 5% to €17.4 million, Class B operators recorded a 10% increase to €30 million, further reinforcing the online segment’s stronger profitability.

Market Structure And Regulatory Oversight

The number of licensed Class A betting premises increased slightly to 467 during the quarter, indicating relative stability across the retail betting network. Regional distribution included 163 locations in Nicosia, 135 in Limassol, 84 in Larnaca, 49 in Paphos and 36 in Famagusta. Employment across licensed betting shops also increased 6% to 1,556 workers. Despite stable operator activity overall, licence cancellations and withdrawals rose sharply by 122% compared with Q4 2024, although the market continued operating with six active Class A operators and 13 Class B operators.

Strengthening Regulatory Measures

Regulatory oversight also intensified during the quarter as the National Betting Authority expanded efforts targeting illegal betting activity. By the end of December 2025, authorities had blocked 22,009 illegal betting websites, including 184 new websites added during the quarter. The increase reflected ongoing attempts to limit unlicensed digital betting activity and strengthen compliance across the sector.

Outlook

Strong growth in online betting activity alongside expanded regulatory enforcement continued shaping Cyprus’s betting market during 2025. The sector remained supported by rising digital participation, stable operator activity and continued oversight measures aimed at protecting market integrity.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Cyprus Ranks Among EU Leaders In Tertiary-Educated ICT Workforce

High Educational Attainment Sets Cyprus Apart

Recent data from Eurostat showed that Cyprus is expected to rank among the leading European countries for tertiary-educated ICT professionals in 2025. According to the figures, 96.4% of ICT professionals in Cyprus are projected to hold tertiary education qualifications, placing the country among the highest-ranked members of the European Union.

Gender Disparity Remains A Critical Challenge

Despite the high level of educational attainment, the ICT workforce in Cyprus continues to show a significant gender imbalance. Men are projected to account for 85.1% of ICT employees in 2025, while women are expected to represent 14.9% of the sector. In 2024, the split stood at 70.9% for men and 29.1% for women. The figures highlighted a widening gender gap within the country’s ICT workforce.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

European Union Trends And Comparative Analysis

Across the European Union, the number of ICT professionals is projected to increase to 3.4 million in 2025 from 3.2 million in 2024, representing annual growth of 5.1%. Men are expected to account for 83.4% of ICT employment across the bloc, equivalent to approximately 2.8 million workers, while women are projected to represent 16.6%.

National Performance Variability In Gender Representation

Countries within the EU show a varied landscape: the highest percentages of male ICT professionals are reported in the Czech Republic (92.9%), Slovenia (89.1%), Latvia (89.0%), Lithuania (88.9%), and Slovakia (88.4%). On the contrary, nations such as Denmark (30.0%), Sweden (29.8%), Romania (28.6%), Bulgaria (25.6%), and Croatia (25.2%) lead in female participation in the ICT arena.

Educational Background Across The European ICT Sector

Eurostat data also showed that most ICT professionals across the EU hold tertiary education qualifications. By 2025, 74.8% of ICT workers in the bloc are projected to have university-level education, while 25.2% are expected to hold secondary or post-secondary qualifications. Denmark recorded the highest share of tertiary-educated ICT professionals at 97.7%, followed by France at 96.6% and Cyprus at 96.4%. Other countries with high levels of tertiary-educated ICT workers included Ireland at 92.3%, Bulgaria at 91.1%, and Croatia at 90.9%. At the lower end of the ranking, Italy recorded 69.2%, while Portugal stood at 58.8%.

Conclusion

The data perfectly encapsulates the dual narrative in the ICT sector: while countries like Cyprus and Denmark achieve remarkable educational standards among ICT workers, persistent gender disparities remind us that diversity remains an ongoing challenge. As the ICT landscape continues to evolve, strategic policy formation and corporate governance will be pivotal in balancing excellence with inclusivity.