Uzbekistan cancels decision to legalize betting activity

It should be recalled that in December 2019, the President signed a decree “On measures to raise football to a completely new stage in the development of football in Uzbekistan”. 

According to the document, from January 1, 2021, in order to further develop the sports field, especially football, increase its investment attractiveness and attract additional funds, betting activities were allowed in Uzbekistan. Based on the decree, it was planned to introduce appropriate amendments and additions to the Criminal Code and the Administrative Responsibility Code to establish the responsibility of persons for violating betting activities, playing betting, holding and participating in fixed games in order to influence the games or their results.

In addition, the Agency for Capital Market Development, together with the relevant departments, by June 1, 2020, was instructed to submit draft regulatory legal acts on the implementation of betting activities to the Cabinet of Ministers, providing for:

• implementation of licensing of betting activities by the Agency for Capital Market Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
• regulation of the provision of services by business entities engaged in betting activities in telecommunication networks, including Internet providers;
• directing part of the income of business entities engaged in betting activities to the development of sports, including football;
• introduction of mechanisms of state control over the implementation of betting activities.

On April 6 this year, the President signed a decree “On the introduction of amendments and additions to some acts of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan”. The document states that in paragraph 4 of the decree “On measures to raise football to a completely new stage in the development of football in Uzbekistan”, the above paragraphs are excluded.

Thus, the decision to legalize betting activities was canceled in Uzbekistan.