In Uzbekistan, bookmaking activities have been formally banned for a long time, and the betting market has remained in a gray area: there are no officially licensed bookmakers with a local license yet (as of the end of 2025). Local players place bets through foreign websites, while government authorities actively combat the spread of illegal betting online.
Current Situation: No Local Licenses
Although sports betting is a familiar concept for sports and gambling enthusiasts, it has long been outside the official legal framework in Uzbekistan. International resources accept players from Uzbekistan, but regulated, licensed bookmakers with Uzbek jurisdiction are not yet operational.
The main reasons are:
- until recently, the ban on gambling included betting, making the operation of bookmakers illegal;
- local regulation was only taking shape, and several attempts in previous years did not lead to a full launch of licensing.
Shifts in Legislation: Legalization from 2025
In 2024–2025, the government of Uzbekistan took an important step:
- as of January 1, 2025, a legislative framework for online gambling, lotteries, and betting has been established under licenses issued by the National Agency for Project Management (NAPP).
The licensing system includes:
- strict financial and technological requirements for operators;
- the necessity of registering a legal entity in Uzbekistan and hosting servers within the country;
- mandatory player verification and compliance with anti-money laundering standards.
However, there are currently no fully operational local bookmakers with Uzbek licenses, as the licensing process is just gaining momentum and operators are adapting to the new requirements.
Blocking Illegal Resources
One of the main measures taken by the state in recent years has been the fight against illegal betting activities online. The Competition Committee and relevant authorities monitor websites that promote betting and gambling and initiate their blocking within the country.
According to UzDaily and other sources, since the beginning of 2025, about 70 resources promoting betting services have been blocked as part of compliance with the "Advertising Law".
The law indeed prohibits the placement of advertisements for gambling and betting without the appropriate licenses, which has been one of the reasons for such actions.
Earlier, there were also reports of blocking other websites that advertised betting services and pools, highlighting the regulators' activity in this direction.
Why This Matters for the Market
The blockages and strict policies regarding illegal sites are explained by several objectives of the state:
- protecting consumers from illegal activities;
- preventing financial outflows from the country;
- preparing for the launch of a full-fledged regulatory betting market with licensed operators and transparent operating rules.
Development Prospects
Despite the strict requirements and the need for significant investments, the emergence of a regulated betting market opens up prospects for:
- international and local operators;
- attracting tax revenues;
- protecting players and enhancing digital transparency.
However, in practice, full licenses for bookmakers have not yet been issued, and the industry is still in a transitional period between illegal status and a market with formal regulation.
Conclusion
✔ Currently, there are no operational bookmakers with a local license in Uzbekistan.
✔ As of the beginning of 2025, the government has created a regulatory framework for licensing activities.
✔ Government authorities are actively blocking websites and resources promoting illegal betting in accordance with current legislation.
✔ This is part of efforts to create a transparent and safe betting market in the future.
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