Azerbaijani parliament backs harsher penalties for illegal gambling

Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis has approved in the first reading a bill that would strengthen criminal penalties for organizing illegal gambling, particularly online gambling.

According to Report, the proposed amendments to the Criminal Code were discussed during an extraordinary parliamentary session.

Under the bill, organizing gambling in virtual formats-including via the internet, mobile communications, social media platforms, electronic communication tools, or other internet- and mobile-based applications-would carry tougher penalties. The same applies to offenses involving minors, crimes committed by a group acting in prior collusion, or activities generating substantial illegal income.

Such offenses would be punishable by a fine of up to twice the amount of the income obtained through the crime, restriction of liberty for a term of two to four years, or imprisonment for the same period.

The proposed amendments also introduce stricter penalties for offenses committed by organized criminal groups or criminal organizations, as well as those generating large-scale illegal profits. These would be punishable by restriction of liberty or imprisonment for a term of three to five years.

The bill would also change the way fines are calculated. Instead of the current fixed range of AZN 10,000 to AZN 15,000, courts would be able to impose fines of up to twice the amount of the criminal proceeds.

In addition, the legislation proposes harsher punishment for repeat offenses involving the organization or operation of gambling activities or gambling venues, particularly where minors are involved or where the offenses generate substantial, large-scale, or especially large-scale illegal income.

Under the current legislation, repeat offenses are punishable by restriction of liberty for four to five years or imprisonment for four to eight years. The proposed amendments would make imprisonment for five to eight years the sole penalty for such offenses.