History of Gambling in Azerbaijan
The government of this country has outlawed all gambling. Gambling causes a loss of productivity in the workforce and also leads to the weakening of family values. In recent years, offshore gambling operations have been based here which have been targeted at the large Iranian population within the country. The government has taken steps to block access to these sites and deny service to residents of the country.
Casinos may not advertise their services within this country, even in media formats which do not originate from within Azerbaijan.
There are no legal casinos within this country and it is illegal to own a gambling device of any kind. This includes video poker machines, slot machines, and other similar types of devices. Even the ownership of cards or other devices designed for gambling is illegal.
The Gambling act 2005 brought online gambling to a grinding halt, by making it illegal to host an online casino in the country, or to advertise such sites. The government has a zero-tolerance approach to gambling of any kind and all offenders face severe penalties.
In order to not worry about the safety of money, the withdrawal of funds and the integrity of the gaming machines, it is needed to use only trusted online casinos in Azerbaijan.
Criteria for choosing a good platform for real money are:
- License. The presence of a license shows that the casino meets the standards and complies with the international laws. In Azerbaijan, players can use services of the casino with a license of Curacao, Malta or the Isle of Man. The validity of the license should be checked on the website of the regulator. Some sites notify about the presence of a license, but in reality it is absent.
- Bonus program. When using bonuses and promotions, players get an additional advantage and minimize the risks. In top casinos of Azerbaijan a profitable bonus program should be available and a system of loyalty should be implemented.
- Reviews. They allow to choose a gaming site that is trusted by the majority of users.
- Financial stability. Reliable online casinos don’t have any difficulties to pay even large winnings. Unscrupulous sites hold back even small amounts.
- Support. Most often, on international sites, it is possible to get advice in English.
These criteria should be analyzed individually by each player. However, it is possible to use ready-made ratings where the evaluation of gaming sites by attractiveness has already been assessed by experts.
Casinos are outlawed within this country, and it is illegal to play at any online casino based here. You will not be able to access any online casino websites from your current location.
By changing your online location you can access any online casino, regardless of this country`s laws.
The only allowed gambling games in Azerbaijan are sports betting, Bingo and some other lotteries. They are regulated by the Law on Lotteries. The gambling industry is also mentioned in the Administrative Code. Gambling is supervised by the Ministry of Economic Development.
Foreign casinos are guided by the requirements of international legislation. According to it, the possibility to register on gambling sites is allowed only at the age of majority.
Gambling business has been banned in the country since 1997. The son of the president became the reason for this law. He had a gambling addiction. He lost about 6 million USD in the casino. Until then, land-based casinos operated in the capital of Azerbaijan in quite large numbers.
Another reason for banning casinos in the country is considered to be religion. Most residents practice Islam, in which gambling is considered a sin.
The younger generation of Azerbaijanis hold less religious dogma and for them gambling is one of the ways to spend their free time. Those who want to visit a land-based casino visit neighboring Georgia. Those who do not want to go anywhere, look for a suitable online casino in Azerbaijan.
The number of international virtual clubs with gambling, accepting citizens of Azerbaijan, increases every year. Of course, the state is trying to block such sites. But even in such circumstances, there are many opportunities to play. The main aspect is to choose proven sites with a license and good reviews.
In recent years, the demand for online casinos with real dealers has increased several times. The number of those wishing to play against real dealers in Azerbaijan has also increased.
Live casinos are usually not separate gaming platforms. More often, live games are offered together with slots.
Azerbaijani online casinos with live dealers combine the convenience of virtual sites and the atmosphere of land-based institutions. The best online casinos offer a large selection of live games, high quality broadcasts and many tables with different limits. Many sites hold tournaments among customers for card games and roulette.
In the category of the best Azerbaijani online casinos with live games, are worth of mention:
- 1x Slots;
- Wolfy;
- Platinum casino;
- True Fortuna, etc.
In good online casinos with dealers, customers can communicate with each other and the croupier via chat. This makes the gameplay even more interesting.
