Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The National Agency for Prospective Projects commented on the decision to legalize bookmaking activities.

The agency noted that existing bans are “practically ineffective”, since the population is actively turning to foreign and illegal services.

On 19 April 2024, the President of Uzbekistan signed Decree No. UP-68 “On measures to improve the regulation of the organization and conduct of lotteries and games based on risk.”

According to the Decree, from 1 January 2025, a procedure for licensing activities for organizing games on the Internet and bookmaking activities will be introduced.

On the territory of Uzbekistan, from 1 September 2007, there were bans on gambling and other risky games. However, these bans did not stop the population’s interest in games, and people actively turned to foreign and illegal services, the agency notes.

The lack of legal regulation and restrictions on the size of bets led to citizens gambling on foreign sites, losing large sums of money and sometimes resorting to illegal activities such as theft and robbery, the agency added.

This also led to an outflow of foreign currency from the country. It is estimated that citizens sent between US$350 million and US$1 billion outside the country to engage in gambling.

The Decree was developed based on an analysis of advanced foreign experience with the aim of introducing modern technologies in the regulation of gambling and lotteries.

During the preparation process, the experience of such countries as Singapore, Hungary, South Korea, Georgia and others was studied.

“It should be emphasized that the measures provided for by the Decree are primarily aimed at protecting the rights and interests of citizens, preventing and combating gambling addiction, as well as preventing the outflow of funds from the country,” the agency noted.

In particular, the measures provided for by the Decree include the introduction of mechanisms for organizing the activities of national providers in organizing risk-based games and monitoring their activities, protecting individuals with an excessive dependence on games and certain categories of citizens from participating in games.

“Implementation of the Decree will create a reliable basis for the legal regulation of activities related to the organization of risk-based games on the Internet, bookmaking activities and lotteries, introduce effective mechanisms for protecting the rights and interests of citizens participating in legally organized games, and combating gambling addiction , as well as provide additional sources of income to the State Budget of the country, which can be directed to various social goals,” the NAPP emphasized.