A surge in illegal websites and misleading online advertisements promoting unauthorised casino services in Cyprus was highlighted by the gaming and casino supervision commission on Tuesday.

The commission said some of the deceptive promotions are part of organised scams that falsely cite Cyprus’ sole licensed casino in an effort to mislead the public and extract money or personal data.

It stressed that the only authorised operator is the Integrated Casino Resort and its satellite casinos in Nicosia, Famagusta and Paphos, all of which function exclusively as land-based venues, while all online casino services are strictly prohibited.

Any website offering an “online casino from Cyprus” or claiming to be “the official Cypriot casino” is therefore operating illegally.

According to the authority, players who engage with such sites face significant risks, including lack of protection for deposits and winnings, exposure to personal data theft, and insecure financial transactions vulnerable to fraud or unauthorised charges.

Illegal platforms also lack responsible gaming safeguards, meaning no limits, self-exclusion tools or monitoring measures are in place, while weak identification processes can allow minors to access gambling services.

With no reliable dispute-resolution mechanisms, users cannot file effective complaints if problems arise.

The commission continues to work with relevant authorities to curb illegal online activity and urged the public to report suspicious cases to police.