Cyprus Launches "Professional Skills Academy" to Advance Gaming Sector and Player Protection

With a vision to establish Cyprus as a fair and safe hub for development and innovation in the gaming sector, prioritizing player protection, the National Betting Authority has introduced the "Professional Skills Academy." As part of its strategic objectives, the Authority aims to enhance the specialization of human resources within the gaming industry and increase their numbers, enabling companies directly or indirectly involved in the sector to find qualified staff. This initiative reinforces Cyprus's leading role in sustainable sector development through regulation and supervision, with a strong emphasis on societal protection and the reduction of illegal activities.

The Academy's primary objectives include:

- Training and upgrading the skills and knowledge of all gambling-related stakeholders

- Specializing the gaming sector to eliminate money laundering and terrorist financing threats and ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations

- Promoting voluntary compliance with the regulatory framework

- Strengthening the protection of players and the broader society

- Utilizing and promoting best international practices

In her remarks, Ioanna Fiakkou, President of the National Betting Authority, stated, "With the operation of the Academy today, one of our strategic goals of the Authority is fulfilled. This initiative reflects our commitment to develop and improve the skills of the human resources who operate or wish to operate in the field of gaming. To enhance expertise. To ensure further compliance with the regulatory and regulatory framework. Furthermore, we look forward to the increase of specialized personnel, so that Cyprus becomes a pole of attraction for new investments in the field of gaming, but also for similar services, such as for example the transfer of the headquarters of international companies, at the same time taking advantage of the other advantages that we have as a country. We hope that the Academy will have short-term, but also long-term benefits both in business and in society more broadly."

The Academy, which launched today, July 17, 2024, will offer training programs at Introductory, Intermediate, and Advanced levels. These programs will be conducted through various methods, including face-to-face, synchronous or asynchronous e-learning, or a combination of both. Training topics will cover areas such as Customer Support & Interaction, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Safe Gaming, Complaints & Conflict Resolution, and Marketing and Advertising. The thematic sections will be regularly updated and expanded with new topics.

The University of Nicosia is the implementing agency of the Academy. Nikolas Kythreotis, executive director of the Training and Development Unit of the University of Nicosia, commented, "The Academy is an innovative and pioneering project, and we congratulate the National Betting Authority for the initiative of creating the Professional Skills Academy as well as to all involved. For the Training and Development Unit of the University of Nicosia and IMR it is a challenge for which we have worked hard and we hope for a long and productive continuation."

Further information about the Academy can be found on their website, www.psacademy.cy.

By fLEXI tEAM