Is the Casino Legal in Uzbekistan? 2026 Laws Explained

The New Legal Framework: What Changed in January 2025

The Presidential Decree No. UP-68 ‘On measures to improve the regulation of the organization and conduct of lotteries and risk-based games’, signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on April 19, 2024, established the legal foundation for licensed gambling operations. The law permits online casinos, sports betting platforms, lotteries, and bookmaking services—but only in digital format.

Land-based casinos, physical betting shops, and gambling terminals remain illegal. This digital-only approach mirrors strategies seen in markets transitioning from total prohibition to regulated frameworks.

The regulations introduced three key licensing categories:

• Online gambling and casino games
• Sports betting and bookmaking
• Lottery services

Each category carries different financial requirements and operational standards. And the government isn’t playing around with enforcement.

Financial Requirements: The High Cost of Entry

Want to operate an online casino in Uzbekistan? You’ll need deep pockets.

These aren’t just numbers on paper. The government designed these capital requirements to filter out underfunded operators and ensure only established companies can enter the market.

Sound familiar? It’s similar to strict licensing systems in jurisdictions like the UK and Malta, where high barriers to entry help maintain regulatory control.

Penalties That Actually Hurt: Enforcement Gets Serious

Starting October 9, 2025, Uzbekistan began issuing substantial fines for gambling violations. These penalties apply to both domestic operators and international companies serving Uzbek customers.

Violations of anti-money laundering rules or personal data misuse carry fines of 15,000 BRV (approximately $529,200). Unlicensed deposit-taking could result in penalties up to approximately $352,900.

Real talk: these aren’t token fines. They’re designed to make unlicensed operations financially ruinous.

The Unified State Register: Tracking Every Transaction

All licensed operators must integrate with the Unified State Register of Bets and Players (USRSI)—a government-run system that tracks every player transaction in real-time.

This centralized monitoring serves multiple purposes:

• Consumer protection through transaction oversight
• Anti-money laundering compliance verification
• Tax collection and revenue tracking
• Problem gambling identification and intervention

The system represents Uzbekistan’s commitment to creating a transparent, accountable gambling ecosystem. Industry observers have compared this approach to strict regulatory frameworks in China and Japan, where government oversight is comprehensive and continuous.

Advertising Crackdown: 70 Websites Blocked

Uzbekistan’s Competition Committee hasn’t limited enforcement to operators. The government has actively targeted unauthorized gambling advertising.

Authorities blocked approximately 70 websites promoting unlicensed bookmaking services. This represents part of broader consumer protection policies aimed at reducing exposure to unregulated gambling platforms.

The blocking measures focus on:

• Websites advertising services without proper registration
• Platforms promoting offshore gambling operators
• Social media accounts marketing illegal betting
• Affiliate sites driving traffic to unlicensed casinos

The message is clear: if you’re marketing gambling services to Uzbek customers, you need proper authorization.

What About Physical Casinos?

Short answer? They’re illegal.

Uzbekistan’s new framework explicitly prohibits land-based casinos, physical betting shops, and gambling terminals. The regulations authorize only online operations conducted through licensed digital platforms.

Unauthorized physical gambling venues face the same severe sanctions as unlicensed online operators. The government hasn’t indicated any plans to permit brick-and-mortar casinos in the foreseeable future.

International Operators: Can They Serve Uzbekistan?

International gambling companies can operate in Uzbekistan—but only with proper licensing and local compliance infrastructure.

Foreign operators must:

• Obtain an Uzbekistan-specific gambling license
• Meet all financial capital requirements
• Integrate with the USRSI tracking system
• Maintain servers and data within regulatory reach
• Pay applicable taxes and fees

Operating from abroad without proper licensing won’t protect companies from enforcement. The government has made clear that penalties apply regardless of where the operator is based.

Discover iGaming Infrastructure with Sologe

Businesses evaluating gaming markets often need to understand the technology and business infrastructure that supports gaming operations. Sologe helps companies explore suppliers across multiple iGaming categories through a centralized marketplace.

Sologe can help businesses:

• Review casino platform options
• Compare sports betting software
• Explore game aggregator solutions
• Assess licensing-related categories
• Review company registration options

👉Contact Sologe to explore platforms, licensing categories, software solutions, and other B2B gaming resources.

Looking Forward: Uzbekistan’s Gambling Market in 2026

Six months into the regulated market, Uzbekistan’s gambling industry is still taking shape. Licensed operators are entering cautiously, building compliance infrastructure before launching consumer-facing services.

The strict financial requirements have limited the initial pool of applicants to well-capitalized companies with regulatory experience in other jurisdictions. This was likely the government’s intention—quality over quantity.

Industry analysts expect the market to mature gradually. Early 2026 data suggests operators are focusing on sports betting first, with full casino game libraries rolling out more slowly as technical integrations with government systems are completed.

Frequently Asked Questions