Gambling Laws in Azerbaijan
Gambling in Azerbaijan is considered to be only partially legal. Within the
Azerbaijani gambling laws, the
Presidential Decree from 2001 and its provisions, further consolidated in the
Law on Lotteries and point 525 of the
Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Azerbaijan, are considered to be the main regulatory acts of all gambling activities in the country. Under the current
Azerbaijani gambling legislation, casino games, as well as poker, are considered to be illegal, while lotto games, bingo, and sports betting have legal status in the country. As there is no specific mention of
online gambling, it is a gray area in Azerbaijan. However, as there are no licensed online casinos, it is likely that these games are forbidden.
The regulatory body of the land-based and online gambling activities in the country is the Ministry of Economic Development. The same authority is also the founder of the national lottery which exhibits monopoly over the legal gambling games in Azerbaijan. According to
Azerbaijani gambling laws, minors under 18 years of age are prohibited to participate in gambling activities.
Is Online Gambling Legal in Azerbaijan?
According to the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Azerbaijan, only certain forms of gambling are considered to be legal in Azerbaijan, including the lottery, bingo, and sports betting, while casino games and poker are not legal. However, these rules are not specifically applied to online gambling, which is why it is still a gray area. |
Online Casinos in Azerbaijan
As of August 2019, there are no
online casino sites in Azerbaijan. Casinos used to be all around the country, but these games became prohibited in 1998. As a result, the only option players have is to access offshore platforms. In fact, some, such as
22BET Casino, even target Azerbaijanis, by offering the webpage in their native language.
Online Poker in Azerbaijan
Online poker sites in Azerbaijan are also not legal. Although there are no specific
Azerbaijani poker laws, the general prohibition on casino games in the country holds for this game too. In this way, the best option for players is to access offshore websites that offer large poker rooms.
Online Lottery in Azerbaijan
Lotteries remain one of the few legal gambling sectors in Azerbaijan. Azerlottery is the state-licensed provider for all sorts of lotto games in the country including the
online lotto sites in Azerbaijan. The origin of Azerlottery dates back to 2001 when it was founded by the Ministry of Economic Development of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Since then, the lottery made an astonishing development in every respect, part of which is the launching of a wide variety of
online lotto games on the market.
Online Bingo in Azerbaijan
Although there are no specific
Azerbaijan bingo laws, the online legal status of this gambling game is derived from the legal status of the lottery games. Consequently, online bingo is considered to be legal in Azerbaijan. Azerlottery is also the main provider of
online bingo sites in Azerbaijan and holds a monopoly. But players can also access offshore platforms that usually offer a better selection of bingo games and more opportunities.
Online Sports Betting in Azerbaijan
Together with the lotto and bingo games, sports betting comprises the totality of the legal gaming offer in Azerbaijan. Since 2011 that the sports betting provider Topaz has been authorized to offer sports betting games in the country, including
online sportsbook sites in Azerbaijan. However, due to the monopoly, bettors often use offshore platforms that offer more sports and higher odds.
Online DFS in Azerbaijan
Online DFS sites in Azerbaijan are not legally regulated. There is an ongoing debate on the status of this type of game, but considering the legality of online sports betting in the country, it is very probable that Daily Fantasy Sports would soon become legal in Azerbaijan.
