The 9th Safe Play Week kicks off with the 9th Safe Play Conference on Monday, October 12, at the Hilton Nicosia, organized by the National Betting Authority from October 12 to 18, 2026.organized by the National Betting Authority from October 12 to 18, 2026.
This year’s Week focuses on prevention, early recognition, and setting personal limits and making informed decisions, while highlighting the role of technology and modern player protection tools. Through a program of informational, educational, and experiential activities, the National Betting Authority aims to bring the discussion on Safe Gaming closer to the public. This year’s campaign message, “Gamble within limits. Gamble safely,” highlights the importance of knowing our limits and setting them in a timely manner, before betting and gambling go beyond the realm of entertainment. This year’s campaign explores the concept of limits through references to four iconic figures from Greek mythology: Odysseus, Achilles, Midas, and Icarus. Their stories are linked to timeless human behaviors, such as temptation, a sense of invincibility, the desire for more and more, and overconfidence, conveying in a direct and contemporary way the message of prevention, moderation, and self-control.
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The 9th Safe Play Conference
The Safe Gaming Conference marks the start of the Week. Its goal is to serve as a platform for constructive dialogue and the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and best practices regarding safe engagement with betting and gambling among the scientific community, regulatory authorities, industry professionals, and other relevant stakeholders.
Under the theme “The Future of Player Protection: Shaping a More Sustainable Gambling Industry Through Innovation,” the Conference will examine the new challenges shaping the gambling landscape and how player protection can evolve through innovation, technology, and data analytics.
The conference program includes topics related to the regulation of risks and harms associated with gambling, the psychological and biological factors that influence behavior, regulatory developments in Europe, combating the illegal market, the role of communication and advertising, as well as the potential of artificial intelligence and innovation in player protection.
At the same time, through presentations and discussions, the need for a more modern approach to player protection will be highlighted—one that is not limited to compliance with the regulatory framework, but invests in prevention, the early identification of risks, and the development of effective protection tools. The conference will bring together distinguished academics, researchers, industry professionals, and representatives of relevant organizations from Cyprus and abroad, contributing to the dialogue on the future of player protection and the new challenges posed by technology, market developments, and changing player habits.
Myths of the Past, Behaviors of Today
The 9th Safe Gaming Week marks the culmination of the National Betting Authority’s year-round efforts to educate and protect the public. Through this year’s campaign, the National Betting Authority aims to shift the conversation from a general acknowledgment of risk to the practical application of safe gambling and the timely setting of limits.
This year’s campaign by the National Betting Authority draws inspiration from four iconic figures of Greek mythology: Odysseus, Achilles, Midas, and Icarus. The four stories serve as modern allegories for different human behaviors and our relationship with personal limits.
Odysseus highlights the value of foresight and self-control. Achilles reminds us that no one is invulnerable and that we all have our own “Achilles’ heel.” Midas symbolizes the uncontrollable desire for more and more, while Icarus is a timeless symbol of the consequences of excessive self-confidence and overstepping boundaries.
Through four different stories, the campaign conveys a common message: prevention begins with recognizing our personal limits and making conscious decisions.
Throughout the Week, a series of informational and experiential activities will take place, with the participation of entities from the gambling sector, as well as public and private sector organizations. The public will have the opportunity to learn about safe participation in betting and gambling, the self-protection tools available, the early recognition of problematic behaviors, as well as the support and treatment services offered in Cyprus.
In his remarks, the President of the National Betting Authority, Panagiotis Trisokkas, called on the public to participate in the activities of the 9th Safe Gaming Week and to take advantage of the opportunity to learn about prevention and self-protection:
“Safe Gaming Week is one of the National Betting Authority’s most important initiatives for public awareness and prevention. This year, we are focusing on the importance of setting limits and the need to establish them in a timely manner, before participating in gambling. Safe Gambling is a collective effort. The government, the National Betting Authority, providers, the scientific community, professionals, and society as a whole all have a role to play. For our part, we continue to invest in awareness, prevention, and tools that help citizens stay in control.”
More information about the program and activities for the 9th Safe Play Week is available on the website www.sgw.cy.
