Fortification of Azerbaijan's Crackdown on Illicit Online Gambling and Betting Activities
In a significant move to combat illegal gambling and bookmaking, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan has launched operational measures to identify and neutralize criminal groups operating on popular social media platforms such as Instagram and Telegram.
The Main Cybercrime Department has been at the forefront of these efforts, conducting searches in various locations used by group members, including apartments, office spaces, and secret warehouses. During these searches, a significant amount of evidence was seized, including bank cards issued to shell entities, mobile phones and SIM cards registered abroad, laptops, hard drives with encrypted files, correspondence with game organizers and clients on messengers, and other electronic media confirming the illegal activities.
The criminal case will be sent to court once the investigation is complete.
Azerbaijan's approach to combating illegal online gambling and bookmaking is multi-faceted. The country has recently legalized casinos, but only on man-made islands in the Caspian Sea, aiming to control gambling activities tightly instead of permitting unregulated online operations. This acts as a measure to limit illegal gambling outside these designated areas.
The government also focuses on cracking down on unlicensed operators. Although detailed operational tactics specific to social media platforms are not explicitly described in open sources, the general trend involves preventing illegal advertising and promoting only licensed operators, enforcing compliance with national and international anti-money laundering and regulatory standards.
Azerbaijan follows trends similar to the EU's enhanced age verification and user protection measures, indicating increasing regulatory scrutiny to limit illegal and underage gambling online. This likely extends to monitoring and restricting illegal gambling promotion through digital channels, including social media.
Globally, the fight against illegal gambling on social media often involves monitoring content, shutting down unauthorized accounts, and cooperating with platform providers. Given Azerbaijan’s ongoing regulatory developments and international cooperation, similar methods are presumably in effect.
Organized criminal groups in Azerbaijan have been creating virtual "cashier" systems for conducting illegal gambling activities on platforms like Instagram, Telegram, and other popular social networks. These activities were carried out in violation of the law, without mandatory licenses and tax payments. Investigations revealed a connection between these individuals and gambling business organizers based on foreign platforms.
As the fight against illegal gambling continues, Azerbaijan remains committed to creating a safe and regulated environment for its citizens, ensuring that gambling activities are conducted legally and responsibly.
What strategies is Azerbaijan using to combat illegal gambling on social media platforms like Instagram and Telegram? The country is enforcing operational measures to investigate and prosecute criminal groups, seizing evidence such as bank cards, mobile phones, laptops, and electronic media confirming illegal activities. Furthermore, Azerbaijan focuses on cracking down on unlicensed operators, promoting only licensed gambling within the legal framework, and following trends similar to the EU's age verification measures to limit illegal and underage gambling online.
