Best Online Casinos in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is a nation in western Asia that was once part of the Soviet Union. Today it’s a popular tourist spot thanks to a number of historic buildings and mosques as well as the legendary Silk Road across Asia. Despite the popularity with tourists, the government of Uzbekistan has made no attempts to legalize gambling of any kind. In fact, Uzbekistan is one of the strictest anti-gambling nations on Earth. There are currently no legal land-based or online casinos operating in the country. The good news is that this situation could change very soon. At the time of writing, the Uzbekistan government is considering a law that would legalize sports betting. This is a good first step towards legalizing other forms of gambling in the country too.
History of Gambling in Uzbekistan
Throughout the modern history of Uzbekistan, all forms of gambling have been illegal. There was really no change in this situation from when the country was part of the USSR. The government is very strict when it comes to banning gambling of all kinds.
The government of Uzbekistan was historically so strict that it even cracked down on friendly games like billiards in order to prevent betting. Until very recently, this was the norm in Uzbekistan.
However, things appear to be changing in Uzbekistan. In late 2020, the Uzbek President began to push legislation to open up the country to legal spots betting. Just the fact that this law even came about is a massive shift from the country’s previous attitudes towards gambling.
Right now, the government is reviewing the legislation and working out the rules that will surround legal sports betting in Uzbekistan. There is no expected deadline for when this will be finished, but it could happen this year.
The Uzbekistan government plans to use Malta as a model for how it will set up this legal sports betting market. It will also likely require that sports betting operators give a cut of gambling profits to local sports organizations.
Keep an eye on the news to learn more about the legalization of sports betting and other forms of gambling in Uzbekistan.
How to Gamble Online in Uzbekistan
Despite the current strict laws, it is possible to gamble online while in Uzbekistan. However, you will need to use an offshore casino.
There are plenty of licensed offshore casinos that accept players from Uzbekistan. That said, these sites are not licensed by Uzbekistan. Instead, they are licensed out of international gambling jurisdictions like Malta, Gibraltar, and Curacao.
Now to be clear, accessing these sites is technically illegal while located in Uzbekistan. However, the government does not crack down on this because it’s just too much work. Some international casino sites have been blocked, but the government doesn’t actively look for people playing at offshore casinos.
We have a list right here on this page of the best online casinos in Uzbekistan. All the sites we recommend have been tested by our team for safety and reliability. We’ve done the work for you so you can start playing right away!
How to Deposit at Uzbekistan Online Casinos?
The Uzbek so’m is the national currency of Uzbekistan. Unfortunately, it’s not accepted at most offshore online casinos. However, there is an easy way to get around this issue.
Our recommended payment method for gambling online from Uzbekistan is an e-wallet like Skrill, Neteller, or PayPal. Digital wallets like these can convert your so’m into a more accepted international currency like the Euro. Just be aware that there will probably be fees to convert currency.
Once you convert your currency, you can use the e-wallet to deposit those funds at the casino of your choice. Just make sure that the casino accepts that e-wallet as a payment method.