Uzbekistan: approved licensing procedure for online games, lotteries and bookmaking activities

The National Agency for Advanced Projects of the Republic of Uzbekistan has approved a regulation on the procedure for licensing activities related to the organization of risk-based games on the Internet, as well as lotteries and betting operations. The document was registered on July 7, 2025 under the number 3638 and was developed in compliance with the presidential decree aimed at improving regulation in this area.

Under the new procedure, the right to carry out these types of activities is granted exclusively to legal entities that are residents of Uzbekistan. One of the key requirements is to have your own electronic platform hosted on servers located within the country. It is also mandatory to have the authorized capital formed in cash at the time of submitting the application, as well as the availability of a reserve fund in a separate account to ensure possible payments on winnings, refunds of bets and payment of taxes.

The document pays special attention to issues of transparency and compliance with financial legislation. All settlements with players-from depositing funds to receiving winnings-must be carried out exclusively through a Single state platform that allows you to keep records of bets and participants. At the same time, the use of software, equipment and other technological solutions is possible only if there is a corresponding certificate issued by the conformity assessment bodies.

There are also strict restrictions on participation in games. The law prohibits access to gambling and lotteries for a number of categories of citizens, including minors, persons with limited legal capacity, employees of law enforcement agencies, as well as citizens included in social registers. For foreign citizens, participation may also be restricted-if there is an official request from the authorized bodies of their country through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.

The new regulatory framework is aimed at creating a transparent and manageable gambling entertainment market that excludes illegal practices and is focused on protecting the interests of citizens. Forming such a model requires a high level of digital integration, strict compliance with information security standards and ensuring social responsibility on the part of operators.