The Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan has approved in the third reading a bill introducing significant changes to the country’s casino regulations.
The new law explicitly prohibits virtual gambling activities, including online casinos, mobile network platforms, social media, and other electronic communication means. The legislation bans organizing, conducting, and facilitating virtual casino games, as well as selling tickets or rights to participate in such games. Financial institutions are also barred from processing payments related to virtual gambling.
Casino operations will be permitted only for legal entities licensed by authorized government bodies, subject to compliance with civil-legal ethics and anti-money laundering and terrorism financing regulations.
The law sets the minimum gambling age at 21, forbidding anyone younger from participating directly or indirectly in gambling activities.
Notably, Azerbaijan banned all casino operations back in January 1998. The new legislation now allows gambling only on artificial land plots in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, with corresponding amendments made to the Civil, Criminal, Administrative Offenses Codes, and six other legal acts.
The bill was put to a vote and passed during today’s parliamentary session.
