Draft amendments to legalize casinos for the first time in 25 years in Azerbaijan have been presented to parliament with proposals being heard that would allow gaming floors on artificial islands in the Caspian Sea.
Annual license fees would be set at $200,000 with singer and businessman Emin Agalarov, the former son-in-law of President Ilham Aliyev, keen to open a casino at his Sea Breeze resort on the Absheron Peninsula, which is already located on man-made land.
Mr Agalarov told a local journalist: “Sea Breeze would benefit significantly if we could integrate the gambling business. This is being considered by the state.”
