Azerbaijan has intensified criminal liability for organizing online gambling. President Ilham Aliyev has signed amendments to the Criminal Code, expanding the list of online channels through which the organization of gambling is classified as a crime.
Now, in addition to internet resources and telecommunications networks, the law also covers social media, mobile communications, internet and mobile applications, and platforms based on other technologies.
Previously, online gambling organizers faced fines of up to $8,900 for repeated violations. Now, the fines are tied to turnover and can reach double the amount of illegal income. Additionally, the prison sentence has been increased from 2-3 years to 2-4 years.
Sanctions for qualified offenses have also been revised. For the same actions committed with access to gambling by minors, by a group of individuals in collusion, or with significant income, the law now prescribes a sentence of 3 to 5 years. For particularly qualified offenses, the sentence ranges from 5 to 8 years of imprisonment without the previous alternative of limitation.