Gambling In Azerbaijan: Casinos And Beyond

Azerbaijan has a unique relationship with gambling. Despite being a Muslim country, it has a liberal view on the practice. However, land-based gambling is banned following a scandal involving the then-president Heydar Aliyev's son, Liham Aliyev, who allegedly lost $6 million gambling with a Turkish businessman. As a result, all casinos and gambling were banned in the country.

However, some forms of gambling are permitted, such as the National Lottery, called Azerlotereja, and sports betting, which was legalised in 2011. Online gambling is also allowed, and the government has started to license online gambling companies as a practical measure to control the widespread activity.

Azerbaijanis can also gamble at overseas-based online casinos, although they do so at their own risk as the government has been known to block ISPs of illegal sites.

Azerbaijan's gambling history

Azerbaijan has a rich history of gambling, with some form of it being legal in the country since 1922. From 1922 to 1991, when the country was part of the Soviet Union, the only legal forms of gambling were lotteries and some limited forms of sports betting.

After Azerbaijan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, gambling was legal until 1998. During this time, the country experienced a "golden age of gambling". However, in 1998, all casinos were outlawed in the country, largely due to a gambling scandal involving the president's son, who was a gambling addict and had accumulated $6 million in gambling debts. The president at the time, Heydər Əliyev, decreed that "gambling is contrary to Azerbaijani values, and casinos are centres of immorality", and shut down all casinos and gambling establishments.

The only exception to the gambling ban was the state-owned lottery, which has been legal since 1991. In 2001, the state-owned Azerlotereya OJSC was created to better regulate and develop the lottery sector. In 2011, sports betting was also relegalised, both online and offline, and is strictly controlled by the state.

Today, the only legal forms of gambling in Azerbaijan are sports betting, lottery and bingo. However, unlicensed gambling houses still exist and are frequently shut down by the government.

Land-based gambling ban

Land-based gambling is banned in Azerbaijan, following a scandal involving the then-president Heydar Aliyev's son, Liham Aliyev, in the late 1990s. It was alleged that Liham lost $6 million gambling with a Turkish businessman, which took the country's attention in a major way. In an effort to deny these allegations, President Aliyev banned gambling across the country, pushing most land-based gambling underground.

The ban on land-based gambling has been in place since 1998, with only the state lottery, Azerlotereja, permitted to operate. This monopoly runs lottery games and bingo, with lotteries and bingo formally legalised and regulated under the Ministry of Economic Development in 1999.

Despite the ban, the country has a rich history of gambling. Between 1991 and 1998, there were around 10 casinos in operation, with many smaller slot halls also in place. The gambling sector attracted many unsavoury elements of society, including organised crime groups and corrupt individuals, who thrived in the underegulated and corrupt environment of the Azerbaijan gambling industry in the early 1990s.

In 2003, Liham Aliyev ascended to the presidency, and the rules on gambling were loosened. However, unlicensed gambling houses were still being shut down. Sports betting was legalised in 2011, with both local and commercial operators allowed to apply for a license.

Poker remains prohibited, even though foreign operators target the Azerbaijani market. The government has moved to block illegal sites' ISPs, but sports betting continues to thrive.

Online gambling legalisation

Azerbaijan has a unique situation in which land-based gambling is prohibited, but the government has begun to allow online gambling as a practical measure because it was so widespread and challenging to stop. The country's black market for gambling is robust, and many believe that online games would be unable to compete.

Azerbaijan's history with gambling is a rich one, with a notable ban occurring in the late 1990s. The son of then-President Aliyev sparked a scandal when it was alleged that he lost a large sum of money to a Turkish businessman while gambling. In an attempt to deny these allegations, President Aliyev banned gambling across the country, pushing most land-based gambling operations underground.

Despite this challenging history, the regulated and licensed online gambling community in Azerbaijan has managed to record positive growth. While many individuals still participate in black market land-based gambling in hidden areas, the introduction of multiple operators under state subsidies has attracted players' attention.

The legalization of online gambling practices has proven beneficial for the country, contributing to its GDP growth. Online gambling sites can obtain licenses to operate in Azerbaijan, but they must do so as trustees of a state-owned company, giving the state a high level of control and transparency. This setup provides players with significant protection and puts their safety first, as these sites must maintain their legitimacy to compete with black market alternatives.

Players are advised to stick to licensed sites in Azerbaijan for these added protections. Licensed sites offer clear ways to submit complaints and address problems. This level of oversight is necessary to give licensed sites a chance against the booming black market created by the original gambling ban.

Online casino Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has a somewhat complicated history with gambling. While the country has Muslim roots, it took a liberal view towards gambling before 1990. However, in 1998, a nationwide ban was imposed on gambling, except for the lottery and bingo games run by the state, after a gambling scandal involving the president's son. This ban was loosened in 2011 when sports betting was legalised, and while online casino gaming is still severely restricted in the country, international online casinos accepting Azerbaijani players have filled the niche.

Today, while land-based casinos are still banned in the country, online gambling is allowed, and online casinos can even be licensed in Azerbaijan. However, only sports betting sites can be permitted to operate within the country. If you want to play an online casino in Azerbaijan, you should opt for an international site licensed in a trustworthy jurisdiction.

When choosing an online casino in Azerbaijan, it is essential to check its license. The licensing information of the best online casinos in Azerbaijan can usually be found at the bottom of the website page. The registration number of the license and the jurisdiction it was issued in should be indicated. This is an indicator of legal casino activity and guarantees trustworthy behaviour. The top Azerbaijani online casinos have licenses from the United Kingdom, Malta, and Gibraltar.

Another critical aspect to consider when choosing an online casino in Azerbaijan is the software it operates with and the games portfolio. Well-known software developers like Microgaming, NetEnt, and Playtech create Azerbaijan's best online casino games. These brands are the most frequent in Azerbaijan's top 10 online casinos. It is also vital that the casino offers a variety of games, such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker for money, as well as Azerbaijani free slots of various kinds. In Azerbaijan, online video slots are the most popular, but classic reels and arcades are also common.

Customer support is another essential factor when choosing an online casino in Azerbaijan. The best online casinos for Azerbaijanis offer 24/7 support via live chat, Skype, and email. It is also important to consider the payment methods available at the casino, especially if you prefer to keep your banking details away from casinos and your casino transactions away from your bank statements. eWallets, such as Neteller and Skrill, can be a good option for this, as they can be funded with traditional payment methods without revealing any banking details to the online casinos.

Future of online gambling in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has a unique situation when it comes to gambling. While land-based gambling is banned, online gambling is allowed. This is due to the strong black market for gambling in the country, which made it difficult for the government to completely prohibit all forms of gambling.

The history of gambling in Azerbaijan is tied to a scandal involving the son of then-President Aliyev in the late 1990s. It was alleged that he lost millions of dollars to a Turkish businessman while gambling, which led to a ban on all land-based gambling in the country.

Despite the ban, the online gambling industry in Azerbaijan has been growing. This can be attributed to the release of multiple operators under state subsidies, which has drawn players away from the black market. The growth of the industry has also had a positive impact on the country's GDP, with rates of 11.1% in 2016, 14.6% in 2017, and an estimated 12% in 2018.

Online gambling sites in Azerbaijan are licensed and operate as trustees of a state-owned company, giving the government a high level of control and transparency. This provides players with protection and ensures that licensed sites put player safety first.

While online gambling is legal in Azerbaijan, players should stick to licensed sites to ensure they have access to proper oversight and complaint procedures.

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