Online gambling in Uzbekistan is now legal but tightly state-controlled: it is permitted only through operators licensed by the National Agency for Prospective Projects (NAPP). A licensing framework took effect on 1 January 2025 and the regulated market was set to open from 9 October 2025, reversing a near-total ban in place since 2007. Anything offered without a NAPP licence, including offshore sites, is illegal, and Uzbekistan added criminal penalties for illegal gambling to its Penal Code in 2025.

Gambling (other than state lotteries) was banned in Uzbekistan from September 2007. In 2024 the government reversed course: a presidential decree signed in April 2024 permitted online gambling and bookmaking from 1 January 2025, and the Cabinet of Ministers approved the licensing regulation in December 2024. The regulator is the National Agency for Prospective Projects (NAPP), which issues five-year licences for online gambling, betting and lottery operators and maintains a Unified State Register of Bets and Players to enforce ID checks and limits.

Licensed vs offshore operators

Licensing requirements are demanding: online gambling and betting platforms must hold authorised capital of about 56.25 billion soums (roughly USD 4.4m) plus a reserve fund of about 28.125 billion soums, use Uzbekistan’s national internet domain, and certify their gaming software and random-number generation. Physical gambling venues such as casinos or slot halls remain prohibited (excepting lottery-ticket sales). Because these rules are new, players should assume most sites reachable from abroad are not NAPP-licensed. Using an offshore site is not a regulated activity and carries legal and consumer risk, and operating illegal gambling is now a criminal offence with heavy fines.

Payments and crypto

Licensed operators route payments through Uzbekistan’s regulated financial system with mandatory player verification. On crypto, Uzbekistan treats cryptocurrency as a regulated digital asset, not legal tender. NAPP licenses domestic Virtual Asset Service Providers (exchanges, crypto shops, mining pools), and residents must transact only through licensed local exchanges, with the use of foreign exchanges prohibited. From 1 January 2026, a joint NAPP-Central Bank regulatory sandbox recognises fiat-backed stablecoins for limited use (aimed at interbank and corporate settlement), not everyday retail payments. Crucially, crypto has not been established as an approved way to fund licensed gambling accounts, so crypto gambling should be treated as legally uncertain and high-risk.

Winnings tax

ItemTreatment
Player winnings (licensed lottery/online game/bookmaker)Exempt from personal income tax, 2025-2029 (gambling decree)
Player winnings (other prizes / unlicensed sources)Generally taxable as personal income under standard rules
Operator gaming revenue4% on gross revenue after payouts and refunded stakes

The five-year player exemption is a deliberate incentive to channel activity into the licensed market. Keep records, and confirm the current rule with a qualified adviser, as tax law can change.

Safety and responsible gambling

Uzbekistan’s framework builds in protections: participation is restricted to those 18 and over, operators must offer self-exclusion from 6 months to 5 years, and the Unified State Register can bar individuals with self-reported gambling problems or court-ordered restrictions. There is no widely publicised national gambling helpline; if you or someone you know is struggling, international bodies such as GamCare list free, confidential support.

Bottom line

Uzbekistan has moved from prohibition to a strict, state-supervised regime. Legal online betting exists, but only with NAPP-licensed operators; offshore play and unclear crypto funding carry real legal exposure. Verify a licence before you deposit.

18+ only. Gambling can be addictive. Please play responsibly and seek help if it stops being fun.

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