Azerbaijan’s gambling culture is defined by a long prohibition, a strong traditional-games heritage and a tightly controlled state system. Casinos were banned in 1998 in a morality drive; since 2011 the main legal commercial betting channel has been sports betting through Topaz, alongside the Azerlotereya state lottery. In July 2025 parliament reopened the door to physical casinos - but only on artificial islands in the Caspian Sea.

The 1998 ban

Gambling was outlawed in Azerbaijan in 1998 by decree under then-president Heydar Aliyev. Officials framed it as a morality drive, with the decree reportedly describing casinos as contrary to national morality, and citing concerns about money laundering and harm to young people. Media reports also linked the timing to widely reported claims that Heydar’s son, Ilham Aliyev (the current president), had lost large sums gambling abroad - claims the authorities denied. Both threads - the reported episode and broader conservative and religious sensibilities in a Muslim-majority society - are part of how the ban is remembered.

For more than two decades the legal footprint has been narrow and state-controlled:

  • Lotteries: operated by Azerlotereya.
  • Sports betting: operated by Topaz (a Caspiantech trademark), the sole authorised sports-betting operator since January 2011, including online via eTopaz.

Everything else - private casinos on the mainland, and online casinos generally - has remained prohibited.

The 2025 Caspian island reform

In July 2025, the Milli Majlis (parliament) passed legislation allowing casino operations on designated artificial islands in the Caspian Sea, subject to special licensing and state oversight. Lawmakers framed the move around attracting foreign investment, boosting tourism and tax revenue, and shrinking a shadow market in which residents gamble abroad or on offshore online platforms. Importantly, gambling remains banned across mainland Azerbaijan, and the reform does not authorise online casinos.

The reform has drawn commentary linking the island projects to business interests connected to the president’s former son-in-law; we note this as reported context rather than a verified fact.

Traditional games: backgammon (nard)

Backgammon, or nard, is a cherished social pastime in Azerbaijan, played in homes and tea houses across generations. It sits in the cultural sphere rather than the commercial gambling market and is not treated as regulated betting.

Attitudes and direction of travel

Azerbaijan is largely secular but Muslim-majority, and conservative religious opposition to gambling remains part of the public mood. Policy has long been restrictive, and even the 2025 reform is deliberately ring-fenced to offshore islands. At the same time, authorities have moved to toughen criminal penalties for organising illegal online gambling (a bill advanced through first reading in 2026), signalling a two-track approach: a narrow, controlled legal offering plus firmer enforcement against unlicensed operators.

18+ only. Gambling can be addictive - please play responsibly.

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