Online casinos and sports betting in Uzbekistan

Gambling is prohibited in Uzbekistan — for now. But while operators prepare for the upcoming launch of the legal market, Uzbek players use various methods to access casinos currently unavailable in their home country. Read on to find out more.

We are thrilled to announce that from January 1, 2025, online gambling and betting activities will be allowed in Uzbekistan with licenses issued by the NAPP!

Legislation on gambling in Uzbekistan

Uzbek bettors’ long wait for legal betting is nearly over, 17 years after gambling and other risk-based games were banned in the country.

In late 2019, the government of Uzbekistan took the decision to legalize betting activities with the intention of supporting and developing the country's sports industry. In November of the same year, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's decree “On measures to bring the development of popular sports in Uzbekistan to a new level” was published on the government portal of the republic. This decree legalized betting operations with the objective of directing the obtained funds to the development of sports institutions, especially the soccer industry.

The government had initially anticipated that the legalization of the betting market would be completed by the end of 2021. The primary motivations behind this initiative were the need to stem the outflow of funds into the shadow sector of the gambling industry and to provide financial support to the Uzbekistan Football Federation in order to achieve sporting success on the international stage.

However, the launch of these plans has been delayed due to difficulties in identifying the agency responsible for modernizing sports and developing programs for athletes. After several failed attempts, in 2021, President Mirziyoyev instructed the Oliy Majlis (parliament) to draft a comprehensive decree regulating all forms of gambling.

In the meantime, the government has permitted Uzbekistan sports clubs to enter into sponsorship agreements with overseas betting companies in accordance with the 2021 decree on modernizing sports.

On April 19, 2024, President Mirziyoyev signed a decree on new measures to regulate the organization of lotteries and gambling. This information was released by the press service of the National Agency of Perspective Projects (NAPP) and the Ministry of Justice. From January 1, 2025, online gambling and betting activities will be permitted in Uzbekistan with licenses issued by the ANPP, currently under the leadership of Vyacheslav Pak. The Department for Combating Economic Crimes under the General Prosecutor's Office of the country will oversee the compliance of gambling organizers with all requirements.

Only adult residents of Uzbekistan and tourists will be permitted to engage in licensed betting, online gambling, and lotteries. Individuals will be exempt from income tax on winnings from lotteries, online slots, and sports betting.

As part of the new regulatory measures, additional rules and requirements for gambling organizers have been introduced. These measures include enhanced inspections for compliance with safety and player protection standards, as well as the mandatory use of modern technology to monitor and manage gambling processes. These changes are aimed at creating a more transparent and responsible gambling industry.

The NAPP and the Economic Crimes Department of the Attorney General's Office will be responsible for monitoring compliance with the anti-money laundering and other violations policy.

Goals of the bookmaker business

The introduction of new legislation and the legalization of the sports betting business in Uzbekistan will create favorable conditions for international operators and investors interested in entering a new market. And, as is often the case, the introduction of a legal gaming market will likely have broader positive effects on the economy.

One of the key factors driving the growth of the industry is the country’s tax policy. The 4% tax on gambling income after deduction of paid winnings and returned bets makes Uzbekistan an attractive market for operators. This relatively low tax barrier can stimulate the growth and development of local and international gambling companies.

The legalisation of online gambling and betting activities in Uzbekistan presents a significant opportunity to improve digital infrastructure. Operators will be required to invest in ways to ensure the safety and comfort of players, bringing new technology into the domestic market.

The new legislation creates favorable conditions for the growth of the betting business in Uzbekistan. The combination of low taxation, well-developed infrastructure, and the potential for international investments opens up broad prospects for the industry, which should contribute to the overall economic development of the country as a whole.

Gambling zone Muynak

In 2019, there was a promising sign for gambling in Uzbekistan after officials announced a resolution to develop the country’s economy by expanding its tourism industry. In light of the announcement, authorities planned to establish a legal gambling zone in the city of Muynak, part of an effort to revitalize the city. According to the original plans, Muynak would have been transformed into a modern entertainment and tourism cluster by the end of 2020.

The project included the creation of an independent administrative unit, which would consist of several hotel complexes, a shopping mall, gambling halls, poker rooms, and other forms of gambling entertainment. The gambling zone is intended exclusively for foreign citizens.

In this specially designated space, the government of Uzbekistan intended to organize several business areas for:

• Sport (a track might be built for the Rally Muynak)
• Trade
• Religious tourism

As of yet, there is not much information available; the government of Uzbekistan has not recently given any comments or disclosed any new details on the issue. However, while officials haven’t announced many updates on the progress of the legislation, it hasn’t been publicly canceled, either. If the project goes ahead, it won’t be before 2025.

How to open an online casino in Uzbekistan?

Until January 1, 2025, all forms of gambling in Uzbekistan are either entirely banned or heavily restricted. In the meantime, players use a variety of methods to visit offshore casinos and sportsbooks. Here are a few of the most popular methods.

First, they commonly visit mirror sites as an alternative to the original site. These are identical copies of the original site, hosted on separate domain names, which platform operators establish once the main site has been blocked.

The second option is to use a VPN, which allows users to overcome geographical restrictions by concealing their actual location. This can be beneficial for players in Uzbekistan who wish to access blocked casino sites.

Another thing players do is check for an AMP version of the website. AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) is a technology developed by Google to speed up the loading of web pages on mobile devices. These versions of the site are often still available even if the main site is blocked. AMP pages can be hosted on an external domain and will continue to function if the main domain is blocked. This is particularly relevant now, as a large proportion of players use mobile devices to play at online casinos.

One of the key benefits of creating a multilingual site with an Uzbek version is that it will help attract local players. This will make your site more accessible and convenient for users from Uzbekistan. For example, the Slotegrator homepage is translated into 15 languages.

Slotegrator always recommends strict adherence to local laws and regulations.

Mobile casino games

The growing popularity of mobile devices has resulted in many players preferring to bet and play casino games from their phones. This has led to the widespread recognition of a need for a mobile version of the site or mobile app in order to attract and retain players.

In the current online casino environment, it is becoming increasingly challenging to keep up with frequent blocking of these sites, which is driving a need for constant innovation in traffic generation.

Mobile applications, in turn, provide an additional source of traffic and convenience for users, allowing them to play anytime and anywhere. One of the most relevant solutions in mobile gambling is Telegram casinos. The bot format allows players to use the popular mobile app to access games, making the gambling process more convenient and attractive.

Telegram Casino from Slotegrator is growing in popularity due to its accessibility and ease of use. This innovative solution allows casino operators to attract new players and retain existing ones by providing them with the most convenient way to play.

What types of games are offered in Uzbekistan?

The following types of games are popular in Uzbekistan:

• Poker
• Baccarat
• Blackjack
• Roulette
• Slots

Despite all the restrictions and bans, the level of interest in gambling in the country remains high.

Methods of depositing and withdrawing funds in Uzbekistan

Deposits and withdrawals in online casinos in Uzbekistan are subject to specific regulations and limitations due to local legislation and available payment options. Let’s examine the most common methods and some nuances related to payment systems.

Bank cards: One of the most common methods of depositing and withdrawing funds is through the use of credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard). However, due to restrictions on gambling-related transactions, such transactions may be difficult.

E-wallets: Services such as Skrill, Neteller, and WebMoney offer a convenient and secure alternative to traditional banking for fast transactions. These payment systems are often used in countries with restrictions on bank transfers for gambling, including Uzbekistan.

Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies are becoming increasingly popular for online casino transactions. They offer a high level of anonymity and circumvent numerous legislative hurdles.

Mobile payments: Mobile payment services such as PayMe and Click offer a convenient solution for users who prefer to conduct financial transactions on their mobile devices.

It is important to note that Uzbekistan has strict gambling regulations, which can make it challenging to use certain deposit and withdrawal methods. It is crucial for both players and operators to be fully aware of all legal requirements and restrictions.

The processing time for transactions may also vary depending on the method selected. Compared to bank cards, cryptocurrencies and e-wallets typically provide faster transfer times. It is important to note that different methods may have different payment processing fees, which should be taken into account when selecting a deposit or withdrawal method.

To ensure your players always have a viable payment option, use Moneygrator, our unified payment solution. Moneygrator combines multiple payment systems for different gambling markets into a single application. This allows our clients' customers to make secure, seamless transactions, providing a high level of convenience