UZBEKISTAN

Uzbekistan is one of the fastest transforming Tier 3 gambling markets in Central Asia. Historically, the country has adhered to a strict prohibitive model in relation to gambling, but in recent years it has been actively forming the legal segment of sports betting, digital lotteries and controlled online formats.

The Uzbek market is characterized by a high interest in sports betting, the rapid growth of mobile Internet, an active young audience and the rapid digitalization of the payment infrastructure.

Online casinos in Uzbekistan

Full-fledged online casinos in Uzbekistan are officially banned, but foreign platforms maintain stable shadow demand.

Banning national online casinos.
Use of overseas casino platforms.
Growing interest in slots and crash games.
Active mobile traffic.
No local casino license.

The online segment develops outside the official legal field.

Land-based casinos and gaming halls

Land-based casinos and slot machines in the classic format are officially banned in Uzbekistan.

Total casino ban.
Lack of legal slot halls.
State lotteries as a permitted format.
Tight control over illegal halls.
Criminal liability for organization.

Offline gambling as an industry is absent in its legal form.

Sports betting and betting

Sports betting is the main legal gambling destination in the country and is showing steady growth.

• Football (overall leader).
• Boxing.
• Wrestling and martial arts.
• Basketball.
• Esports.

Live betting and mobile betting form the bulk of the turnover.

Regulation and licences

The regulation of gambling in Uzbekistan is in the stage of active reform and digital transformation.

Legalization of sports betting.
State control of betting platforms.
Banning casinos and slot machines.
Centralized payment supervision.
Strengthening KYC and financial monitoring.

The regulation model is gradually shifting towards digital betting.

Payment methods

Uzbekistan demonstrates the active development of digital and mobile payment technologies.

Bank cards.
Online bank transfers.
Mobile wallets.
QR payments.
Limited use of cryptocurrencies.

Instant mobile payments are becoming the main deposit tool.

Popular games and formats

• Football betting.
• Crash games.
• Foreign slots.
• Live betting.
• Fast arcade formats.

Football betting remains the main driver of the market.

Mobile gambling

Uzbekistan is a dynamically growing mobile gambling market.

Mass distribution of smartphones.
Rapid growth of 4G and 5G networks.
Betting and gaming via mobile browsers.
Instant deposits from smartphones.
Young digital audience.

The mobile segment forms the bulk of all online traffic.

Advertising and responsible play

Advertising of gambling in Uzbekistan is strictly limited and is allowed only in relation to legal betting.

Limiting bookmakers' advertising.
Complete ban on casino advertising.
State control of marketing.
Partner program monitoring.
Elements of responsible play at the legislative level.

The advertising model remains tightly controlled.

Why Uzbekistan is a Tier 3 market

• strict prohibition of casinos and machines;
• legalization and growth of sports betting;
• the rapid development of digital payments;
• an active mobile young audience;
• high share of offshore online.

Uzbekistan is an emerging Tier 3 gambling market with tough casino bans but steady growth in sports betting and digital payment solutions. For operators, this is a market for long-term potential in the betting segment, for players - access to legal sports bets and foreign gaming platforms in a mobile format.