Azerbaijan’s parliament has passed a bill legalizing casino operations on artificial land plots during a session held on July 8.
According to the draft law, casinos will only be permitted on artificial land created in the Caspian Sea, Modern.az reports.
Lawmakers say that the move will increase tax revenues, boost tourism, and create new jobs. They emphasized that many Azerbaijani citizens currently travel abroad or turn to online platforms to gamble, and the new legislation aims to curb illegal gambling activity.
Under the new law, casinos will require a special license to operate and will be subject to state oversight from the moment of application through their operational period. Only legal entities will be allowed to organize casino activities, and they must ensure financial transparency and comply with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations.
