Azerbaijan intends to raise the issue of legalization of gambling

Azerbaijan can use the ineffective fight against underground gambling establishments to its advantage by increasing the flow of money to the state treasury. Moreover, this decision of the country's leadership can have both positive and negative consequences.

This point of view was voiced by Elshad Mammadov, Doctor of Economics and a leading expert in the field of economic issues. Thus, the state will increase the inflow of cash receipts to the treasury, and gambling establishments will not have to hide their activities.

However, this decision may also have negative consequences associated with an increase in the number of people suffering from gambling addiction, as well as with an increase in crime and the development of social problems.

Today, according to experts, the turnover of funds in illegal gambling establishments is small. Serious and gamblers who are ready to invest large sums, according to Mammadov, will prefer to go abroad and to legal gambling casinos.

The fight against illegal online centers at the government level has been going on since 2016. In Azerbaijan, the monopoly on gambling belongs to the state. Kyrgyzstan and some other countries have a similar policy in relation to gambling establishments.

It should be reminded that there is only one gaming company operating in Azerbaijan, which provides sports betting services. The decision to legalize is intended to reduce the degree of state control and increase the number of gambling establishments in the country. According to some analysts, the country's authorities may heed Mamedov's proposal to legalize.