The National Agency for Prospective Projects of the Republic of Uzbekistan has issued the first license for betting activities in the country. It was received by Olimpbet, which has become the first officially licensed bookmaker in Uzbekistan.
Although the law allowed betting activities starting from January 1, 2025, until the end of July 2026, there was not a single operator with a valid license in the country. Now, the platform olimpbet.uz is officially operational.
Main Highlights of the Event
| Parameter | Information |
|---|---|
| First licensed bookmaker | Olimpbet |
| Regulator | National Agency for Prospective Projects of the Republic of Uzbekistan |
| Local domain | olimpbet.uz |
| Status | First issued license for betting activities |
| Actual launch of the legal market | End of July 2026 |
The Market Finally Has Its First Player
Previously, BET RATING analyzed the situation in detail in the article "Bookmakers in Uzbekistan: the market has been legalized, but there are no licenses."
The legislation allowed betting activities starting in January 2025, and the licensing procedure was approved by the NAPP in July of the same year. However, in practice, licenses were not issued to operators for a long time.
Due to the lack of a legal alternative, players continued to use foreign and offshore platforms that were not under the control of the Uzbek regulator.
Now the situation has changed. Olimpbet has become the first operator to pass the NAPP licensing and the first bookmaker to officially operate in the Uzbek market through the local domain olimpbet.uz.
The platform is available in both desktop and mobile versions.
Why Olimpbet Was the First
The brand is entering the Uzbek market not from scratch. Olimpbet has been operating in Kazakhstan for many years and is among the major bookmakers in the region.
The company collaborates with the Kazakhstan Football Federation, Premier League football clubs, and MMA promotions Alash Pride and Naiza. Athletes from Uzbekistan regularly participate in tournaments organized by these organizations.
As a result, the brand was already familiar to part of the regional audience even before the official launch of the Uzbek platform.
For a market that previously existed mainly in a gray area, the arrival of an operator with experience in a regulated jurisdiction seems like a logical scenario.
The NAPP gains a company that is already familiar with government oversight requirements, while players get the first bookmaker operating within the framework of Uzbek legislation.
What This Means for Players
In Uzbekistan, there are restrictions for certain categories of citizens who are prohibited from participating in gambling and betting.
This includes, in particular, certain employees of the prosecutor's office, internal affairs agencies, the National Guard, customs service, and military personnel.
For other adult residents and non-residents, legal betting is now available not only formally but also through a genuinely operational licensed platform.
The key difference between Olimpbet and the foreign operators that the market has used for the past year and a half lies in its official status.
For players, this means that for the first time, there is a bookmaker operating within the framework of Uzbekistan's legislation, under the control of the NAPP and the Department for Combating Economic Crimes.
The licensed operator is required to comply with user identification, financial operations, payout of winnings, and player protection requirements.
How Taxes Are Structured
For licensed bookmakers, the legislation provides a tax regime where the company pays a tax of 4% on turnover.
At the same time, winnings received from a licensed operator are exempt from personal income tax.
| Category | Tax Regime |
|---|---|
| Licensed bookmaker | 4% of turnover |
| Player's winnings | Exempt from personal income tax |
Thus, the main tax burden falls on the operator, not on the clients of the bookmaker.
What Happens Next
Currently, Olimpbet remains the only licensed bookmaker in Uzbekistan.
However, the emergence of the first licensee means that the licensing mechanism has finally started working not just on paper, but in practice.
This could signal other major brands that were previously interested in the Uzbek market but postponed their entry due to the lack of a functioning licensing procedure.
It is likely that the list of legal operators will expand in the future.
BET RATING will continue to monitor the situation and update the ranking of bookmakers in Uzbekistan as new licensees emerge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first to receive a bookmaker's license in Uzbekistan?
The first license for betting activities was received by Olimpbet. The operator launched the local platform olimpbet.uz.
From when can bets be legally placed in Uzbekistan?
The law allowed betting activities starting from January 1, 2025. However, the first actually operational licensed operator appeared only at the end of July 2026.
How does Olimpbet.uz differ from the Kazakhstan version?
Olimpbet.uz is a separate local platform designed for users from Uzbekistan. It operates under a local domain and in accordance with the requirements of the NAPP.
Do players pay tax on winnings?
Winnings received from a licensed bookmaker are exempt from personal income tax. The tax burden is borne by the operator itself.
Are there other licensed bookmakers in Uzbekistan?
At the time of publication, Olimpbet is the first and only licensed bookmaker in the country.
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