Cyprus betting regulator says 9 in 10 youths see gambling ads on Instagram

A survey commissioned by the Cyprus National Betting Authority (EAS) and carried out by IMR/UNIC among 1,000 residents aged 18‑35 across the island found that nine out of ten young people have been exposed to gambling‑related content on social media in the past year. Instagram is the dominant platform, with 95% of respondents holding an account and 93% reporting that they saw gambling ads there; Facebook (82%) and TikTok (68%) follow.

The average exposure frequency is 4.45 instances per month. Paid advertisements from betting firms or online casinos were seen by 89% of participants, while 77% reported influencer posts promoting gambling. Despite this high exposure, most respondents do not follow gambling accounts or sign up for betting sites after seeing the content.

Sixty‑three percent of those surveyed have gambled in the last twelve months, with 78% doing so to win money and 65% for entertainment. Average monthly spending on gambling is €34.2, with men spending more than women. Participants devote about 118.8 minutes per week to gambling, again higher among men. EAS President Panagiotis Trisokkas said, “Social media are now a major channel through which young people are exposed to gambling content. Prevention must follow the digital habits of the youth.”