The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis (parliament) on 14 January approved amendments to legalize bookmaker activities in Uzbekistan, sending the law to the Senate for approval.

The legislation was drafted to implement an April 2024 president’s decree permitting online gambling and bookmaker operations starting 1 January 2025.

The new regulations outline licensing procedures for organizing gambling, lotteries and betting, establish categories of individuals barred from participation and introducemechanisms to track gambling addiction cases.

The amendments provide a framework for regulating internet-based gambling, limiting access for citizens with excessive gambling tendencies, and restricting the use of illegal or foreign services.

Deputies said the law would foster the growth of capital and insurance markets while regulating risk-based games and lotteries.

Additionally, the legislation details regulations for the Central Securities Depository, insurance companies, stock market and the National Agency for Perspective Projects (NAPP), which will oversee these sectors.

Consideration of the law

The first reading of the draft law took place on 24 December, where 120 deputies voted in favor, 10 opposed (7 from the Milliy Tiklanish party and 3 from the Adolat party), 12 abstained and 2 did not vote.

First deputy director of the NAPP Vyacheslav Pak stated that the law aimed to amend part 4 of article 278 of the Criminal Code. Currently, this article prohibits provision of services via telecommunications networks, including by providers, as well as reproduction, distribution or dissemination of software designed to organize or conduct gambling and other risk-based games.

bookmakers, gambling, law, legislative chamber

During the first reading, deputy Ilhom Abdullayev from the Milliy Tiklanish party emphasized the necessity of amending the advertising law alongside the proposed changes regarding bookmaker activities. “It is impossible to allow bookmakers to operate without regulating how information about their activities is disseminated,” he stated.

According to Ilhom Abdullayev, it is crucial to shield young people from gambling and bookmaker advertisements, as is done in other countries. He emphasized the need for restrictions on advertising timing, limiting it to nighttime hours between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. and banning such advertisements in specific locations, including city banners and areas near educational institutions.

Abdullayev also proposed prohibiting ads that target youth or portray gambling as a means to achieve success or as a primary source of income. Additionally, he stressed the importance of including warnings about risks and consequences in gambling advertisements.

The deputy noted that the proposed legislation was “conceptually incomplete” due to the absence of amendments to advertising laws.

Under the president’s decree issued on 19 April 2024, the government was tasked with submitting amendments to the law “On advertising” and other related documents within three months.

Adoption of the law

On 14 January, during the second reading, 122 deputies voted in favor of the law, 5 opposed, 5 abstained and 7 did not vote. Regarding amendments specifically related to bookmaker activities, 10 deputies voted against.

In the third reading, 118 deputies supported the law, 8 opposed, 5 abstained and 7 did not vote.

Leader of the Milliy Tiklanish party Alisher Kadirov noted that his party initially opposed the law, which he described as “unlikely to please our population”.

“We supported the concept of regulating the sector through stricter control, as this issue could not be resolved through prohibition. Our party backed the law solely for this reason,” he said.

In December, the government established requirements for organizing gambling, lotteries and betting activities in Uzbekistan. Licenses for operators will be valid for five years, with a minimum charter capital requirement of 56.25 billion soums ($4.3 million). The regulations also impose various restrictions to ensure compliance and mitigate potential harm.