63% of young people in Cyprus place bets

Almost two-thirds of the Republic of Cyprus residents aged 18 to 35 have played gambling games at least once over the past 12 months. This conclusion was reached by the authors of a study presented by the National Betting Authority (NBA).

A survey conducted among a thousand young Cypriots showed that average monthly spending on gambling amounts to €34.2. At the same time, 93% of respondents regularly encountered ads for betting and online casinos on social media over the past year.

Instagram turned out to be the main platform for such content. That is where most participants in the study saw gambling advertisements. Facebook and TikTok follow. At the same time, most young people are not subscribed to bookmakers’ pages, which, according to the study’s authors, indicates the work of recommendation algorithms rather than the conscious search for such content.

The main reason for participating in gambling was the desire to win money, cited by 78% of respondents, while another 65% said they were motivated by entertainment. Most players spend between €10 and €50 per month on bets. Men spend an average of €38.9 a month, while women spend €28.

Cyprus authorities are preparing amendments to the legislation that will make it possible to restrict the promotion of illegal betting services not only through websites, but also on social media, mobile apps and search engines. It is also planned to expand preventive programs for schoolchildren.

According to the National Betting Authority, about 80% of gamblers in Cyprus place bets online, and the market continues to grow. Interest in gambling is expected to increase further during the FIFA World Cup.