Cyprus steps up player protection and turns to AI for detection

Cyprus will strengthen player protection by combining tougher action against illegal gambling with increased use of detection technology, National Betting Authority chairman Panayiotis Trisokkas said at the 9th Safer Gambling Conference. Trisokkas said regulatory compliance alone is insufficient and that consumer protection must be integrated into the operation of the regulated market.

Core message and context

The National Betting Authority positioned player protection as the foundation of a sustainable gambling market. "A well-regulated market is a prerequisite for a sustainable market. And a sustainable market is one in which player protection is an integral part of its operation," Panayiotis Trisokkas said during the conference. The event launched the ninth Safer Gambling Week in Cyprus and brought together academics, researchers, regulators and industry representatives from Cyprus and other jurisdictions to discuss illegal betting, artificial intelligence, public health and European regulatory trends.

Artificial intelligence and data analytics

Delegates devoted a substantial portion of sessions to applying artificial intelligence and data analytics to detect problematic gambling patterns at earlier stages. Speakers emphasised that these tools can help improve understanding of player behaviour and enable more effective interventions by operators and authorities.

Regulators and experts discussed how AI models and analytics systems can identify risk signals that are not evident with traditional supervision methods, and how to integrate them into assessment processes and regulatory responses.

Public health and European regulation

Conference participants examined the growing recognition across Europe of gambling-related harms as a public health challenge in addition to a compliance issue. They addressed psychological and biological drivers of risky behaviour and the difficulties regulators face identifying and combating illegal gambling activity.

Debates included developments in gambling regulation in the European Union and neighbouring countries, with particular attention to changes that strengthen consumer safeguards. A panel reviewed initiatives and frameworks that seek to balance market oversight with preventive and public-health measures. European gambling regulation was referred to as an evolving area during the sessions.

Enforcement against illegal operators

The National Betting Authority maintained that illegal gambling remains a key threat to the sustainability of the regulated market in Cyprus. Trisokkas called for intensified action against unauthorised operators and strengthened enforcement to protect consumers and the regulated market itself.

Authorities advocated a mix of robust enforcement, preventive measures and technological monitoring to reduce gambling-related harm and limit consumer migration to unregulated platforms.

Safer Gambling Week: campaigns and vulnerable groups

Safer Gambling Week in Cyprus included educational initiatives, awareness campaigns and interactive events under the slogan "Play within limits. Play safely". The campaign aimed to promote self-control, early identification of harmful behaviour and the use of available support tools for consumers.

Organisers paid particular attention to young people and vulnerable groups, with activities designed to raise awareness of risks and available help resources. The conference also covered responsible advertising practices and the responsibilities of communications professionals.

Messages from government

Lucy Herodotou Mouskou, director of financial management for the central government and representative of the Ministry of Finance, highlighted the National Betting Authority's work and warned against prioritising sector growth above consumer welfare. Mouskou conveyed a message from the Finance Minister insisting that economic prosperity must be accompanied by consumer protection and transparency.

The official position stressed that, beyond promoting responsible gambling and respect for personal limits, the State has a duty to provide support when those limits are exceeded.

"A well-regulated market is a prerequisite for a sustainable market. And a sustainable market is one in which player protection is an integral part of its operation," said Panayiotis Trisokkas.

Safer Gambling Week and the 9th Safer Gambling Conference reflected Cyprus's intent to strengthen its responsible-gambling framework by combining stepped-up action against illegal activity with greater use of digital technologies to identify and mitigate gambling-related harm. To follow sector developments and regulatory responses consult our coverage in [news](/news) and in the [b2b](/b2b) section.