Azerbaijan tightens penalties for organizing gambling

Penalties for organizing gambling in Azerbaijan are being toughened.

Amendments to the Criminal Code have been proposed.

The draft was discussed today at a joint meeting of the Milli Majlis Committees on Law Policy and State-Building, and Labor and Social Policy.

Under the document, gambling offenses will be punishable when:

- Conducted virtually, including through internet, mobile networks, social media platforms, other electronic communication tools, or applications based on internet and mobile technologies;

- Involving minors;

- Committed by a group acting in collusion;

- Generating significant income.

In such cases, offenders may face fines of up to twice the amount of illicit income, along with restrictions of liberty for 2 to 4 years, or imprisonment for the same period.

If committed by organized groups or criminal associations, or if large-scale income is generated, penalties will include restriction of liberty for 3 to 5 years or imprisonment for the same period.

Currently, sanctions stipulate fines ranging from 10,000 (approximately $5,882) to 15,000 manats (approximately 8,823). Under the new proposal, fines will instead be calculated as up to twice the amount of income obtained through the crime.

The amendments also foresee tougher penalties for repeat offenses, for allowing minors to participate, and for cases involving significant, large-scale, or especially large-scale income.

At present, repeat offenses are punishable by restriction of liberty for 4 to 5 years or imprisonment for 4 to 8 years. 

The draft proposes increasing this to imprisonment for 5 to 8 years.