Cyprus Betting Market Reaches New Heights In Q4 2025

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.

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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.

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Cyprus Promotes Ship Registry In Asia As Fleet Grows To 25-Year High

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 19, 2026

Cyprus is stepping up efforts to attract international shipowners, with Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis holding high-level meetings in China and Japan as the country’s ship register reaches its strongest level in 25 years.

Running from October 14 to 29, the Asian mission focuses on expanding commercial ties, promoting the advantages of the Cyprus flag and strengthening cooperation with shipowners, shipbuilders and maritime authorities.

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China Meetings Target Shipowners And Industry Leaders

In Shanghai, Hadjimanolis met Wang Qian, vice-director of the Shanghai Pudong New Area Commission of Commerce and Shipping Service Office, ahead of the North Bund International Shipping Forum on October 20–21. Organisers expect around 4,000 participants from more than 50 countries and regions, with discussions covering international shipping, maritime safety, financing, insurance, digitalisation and the transition to cleaner fuels.

The minister also met representatives of Dalian Trawind Shipping and Fortuna Shipbrokers Inc. to present the Cyprus registry’s advantages and explore registration opportunities for vessel owners. On October 20, she is scheduled to speak at the 10th Annual Capital Link International Shipping Forum in Pudong, joining a ministerial roundtable on international maritime leadership.

A visit to Zhoushan is also planned for the naming ceremony of Kypros Island, a new vessel for the Cyprus register owned by Safe Bulkers. Launched in June at the Tsuneishi shipyard on Xiushan Island, the 81,200-deadweight-tonne methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier is scheduled for delivery at the end of October. According to the Zhejiang Maritime Safety Administration, sea trials were due to take place between October 11 and 16.

Japan Engagements Strengthen Maritime Ties

Before travelling to China, Hadjimanolis met Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Kenta Aoshima, in Tokyo on October 16. Her programme also included meetings with senior representatives of Shoei Kisen Kaisha, Nihon Shipyard, NYK Line, ITOCHU Corporation and SSY Projects, focusing on cooperation with Japanese shipowners, shipbuilders and shipping operators.

At the 5th Annual Capital Link Japan Maritime Forum, held at the Tokyo American Club, Hadjimanolis discussed maritime leadership, competitiveness, policy and international cooperation with Capital Link founder and president Nicolas Bornozis. Other sessions examined Japan’s shipbuilding strategy, new-vessel financing and the development of ammonia-powered ships.

The Tokyo programme followed a Cyprus Ship Registry reception on October 15 for representatives of Japan’s maritime and business communities. Hadjimanolis outlined the country’s shipping services and regulatory framework, while Polys Hajioannou, chief executive of Safe Bulkers and president of the Cyprus Union of Shipowners, delivered the opening remarks.

Registry Reaches Highest Level In 25 Years

At the reception, Hadjimanolis said the Cyprus Ship Registry had grown by 27% since September 2023, reaching its highest level in a quarter of a century. She attributed the expansion to efforts to improve competitiveness, simplify administrative procedures and provide more responsive services to international shipowners.

Cyprus’s inclusion on the White Lists of the Paris and Tokyo Memoranda of Understanding was another point highlighted by the minister. These lists reflect the safety and inspection performance of ships flying a national flag.

Existing commercial links with Japan include Safe Bulkers’ announcement in May of four Japanese-built dry bulk vessels scheduled for delivery in 2029.

South Korea Next On The Maritime Agenda

Hadjimanolis’ mission will continue in South Korea, where she is expected to attend the 2026 World Maritime Day Parallel Event and Korea Maritime Week alongside International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez and government representatives from several countries.

Her programme will also include discussions on implementing international maritime conventions and bilateral talks aimed at strengthening Cyprus’s shipping ties with South Korea.

The Asian outreach comes as maritime centres compete for shipowners amid geopolitical uncertainty, fleet renewal and pressure to reduce shipping emissions. For Cyprus, the strategy combines promotion of its registry with closer relationships across Asia’s shipbuilding and shipping sectors.

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