Uzbekistan

Gambling Outlawed in Uzbekistan

Despite the fact that there was a wide ban on gambling in USSR casinos, and state-owned slot machines were still operating in some cases but many wondered about their legality and ownership. Additionally, since gaining independence in 1991, Uzbekistan witnessed a sharp decrease in gambling generally with a strong Islamic influence penetrating into the society. This sudden prohibition of billiards in 2002 [1] because it endangered the moral state of citizens demonstrates how committed the government can be to these types of issues.

One of the targets of the president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov in the 2000s was gambling. Primarily it was about shutting down casinos and halls with slot machines that could be found in various parts of the country, which represented Uzbeks’ last opportunity to gamble. Although underground gambling exists, it is rare and usually quickly suppressed. Penalties for operating a “gambling house” include prison term up to five years and confiscation of property.

Online Betting Illegal, But Foreign Bookmakers Accessible

Since no land based sports betting are allowed, it is not surprising therefore that the virtual gambling activity is illegal too. The only choice for punters is to use offshore bookmakers that still allow Uzbekistanians to play their games on. Of course, when you choose to gamble at these sites, you are making a conscious decision to accept that chance alone.

Many companies are still doing it despite the fact that is illegal to provide online markets to Uzbekistan; there are also other companies with no problems related to this. This means that you have a lot of choices. Go through the terms and conditions of these websites and make sure Uzbekistan is not being excluded; some sites may even allow you to deposit before freezing your account if you are from a restricted country, be careful.

Think about it; many bookmakers have websites that are owned by established companies in order to provide a market for Uzbekistan because they say that their jurisdiction doesn’t cover them. It’s the best opportunity to select common sites that are reputable with other gamblers. This will not only protect you from any malpractices, but it will also give you an opportunity to use the highest prices and online bonuses available.

Keep Your Online Winnings to Yourself

Uzbekistan has no gambling laws, so won’t have to pay taxes on wins and it would probably be imprudent!

Using Foreign Bookies

You will not be able to find, anywhere, a betting platform which supports translation into Uzbek or accepts bets in UZS. This means that you will have to choose another language or use your browser’s translation facility and maintain your account balance in Euros or US Dollars.

If you deposit in UZS, most of the websites would convert your money to your desired currency, but this may mean a slight devaluation of your funds. It is regrettable that while it helps minimise conversions on too many sites, Uzbekistan does not accept online wallets for gambling transactions.

WebMoney is a digital currency user can utilize to fund your account with Bitcoin, among other things.

Where your bank or credit card company allows you to, they always have a tendency of opting for debit and credit cards as dependable ways of getting money online or off-line, with popular names such as Visa, MasterCard and Diners club being used everywhere. If there is one bank that does not accept such transactions, then you can just go to another one or use an international provider.

No Plans to Change Anything in the Future

Notwithstanding rumors and silent discussions about the loosening of legal frameworks governing betting, it is improbable that anything will change anytime soon. Consequently, if you opt to bet on sports books, your only practical alternative would be to take a risk with one of the offshore sites which still accept players from Uzbekistan.

References

[1] This is according to Gainesville Sun news at https://www.gainesville.com/news/20021023/uzbekistan-issues-ban-on-billiards.Therefore, in Uzbekistan, Billiards are not allowed.