Best Tajikistan Betting Sites

The Republic of Tajikistan is a landlocked Central Asian country. The country is still trying to develop its economy, being relatively poor in terms of per capita income and infrastructure. As for sports, locals love them. Football, boxing and wrestling are the most popular ones. The national sport of Tajikistan is actually gushtigiri, a form of traditional wrestling. The Ligai Olii Tojikiston is the local football league, with clubs like Ravshan Kulob and Istiklol attracting many fans.

Gambling in Tajikistan has long been part of people’s everyday routine. Casinos were particularly growing in the 00s as the country was beginning to recover. But in 2009 they were forced to close; still though, lotteries and sports betting remained legal and kept flourishing. Laws are quite strict, but they mainly focus on illegal land-based gambling. Online sports betting is also theoretically legal. So, apart from the few local Tajikistan bookmakers, players mainly opt for popular international ones.

Best Betting Sites in Tajikistan

Local bettors have many options when it comes to online betting in Tajikistan; that’s why we list the best sportsbooks, the ones that provide wide coverage of all major football events from around the world, along with various welcome offers and special bets.

Betting in Tajikistan - 5 Things to Know

• 1
  The legal gambling age is 18
• 2
  There is no specific law on gambling, just a reference in the Penal Code
• 3
  Numerous international bookies accept Tajiks and offer much better betting options
• 4
  Lotteries and sports betting in Tajikistan are legal
• 5
  Loto Sport, the National Lottery operators, was the first to open bookmaker shops in Dushanbe

General info

⏩Population: 9.600.000

⏩Active players: 1.200.000

⏩Currency: Somoni (TJS)

⏩Regulated gambling products: Lotteries, sports betting

⏩Operator types: Lotteries, bookmakers, unlicensed online bookies & casinos

⏩Designated authority: No specific authority

⏩Status: Semi-regulated

Tajikistan Sports Betting: The Law Framework

Tajikistan features no specific gambling law up to day. There is only one piece of legislation relating to betting in Tajikistan; it’s the 2004 law ‘On licensing certain types of activities’, offering a regulatory framework basically on the national lottery.

Among its powers is providing betting services, which actually set the tone for more providers to operate locally. Loto Sport, operating through the national lottery, is one of the few locally licensed Tajikistan bookmakers. Another popular one is formula55. Naturally, with the sports betting sector being legal, many bookmaker shops are also apparent, mainly in Dushanbe.

The penal code, article 240, also states that illegally organizing games of hazard leads to huge fines; even confiscation of property and imprisonment of 2-5 years. So, just avoid casinos and any bookmaker agent that might approach you on the streets; stick to bookmakers we list, which are all totally legitimate.

The Tajikistan online gambling sector still doesn’t fit in any legal frame; however, it is perceived to be legal. There is also no gambling authority in place and no licensing mechanism for online operators. Apart from a few locally licensed bookies, by permission from the state, various international bookies offer better and bigger betting quality.

Tajik players being free to choose any bookie they want, they slowly turn to the latter. Lastly, the state engages in active internet monitoring and filtering, however, mainly on social media and news sites. There are no reports of blocking sports betting sites, so there is nothing alarming here either.

Essential Info for Tajik Bettors

The legal gambling age is 18. Gambling is generally illegal, however, sports betting is an exception and is a legal everyday practice for many locals; including Tajikistan online betting, which, despite some monitoring from the state, is allowed.

There are also quite a few bookmaker shops that players may visit. Still, online sportsbooks offer a much greater betting variety. Every Tajikistan sports betting site we list in our analysis is legitimate and totally trustworthy.

Therefore, apart from picking the right bookie, there is not much to worry about. Authorities hold an absolutely passive stance towards online betting and players come across a no-hostile environment altogether.

How to Deposit at Online Bookies

Internet penetration is still quite low, around 27%. For those who want to place a bet online, Tajikistan still experiences low internet speeds and poor coverage. Still, more and more are familiarizing themselves with the online environment.

Payments are not blocked by banks whatsoever, so those who bet freely use credit cards and bank wires. Top e-wallets, though, like Skrill and Neteller, are not yet accepting local sign-ups. Cryptocurrencies in Tajikistan are not yet legal. The government, though, has recently made efforts to introduce a new blockchain-based digital currency officially.

If it goes through, it would make it only the second country worldwide to El Salvador- to adopt one. Many Tajikistan bookies are already using cryptos; and it looks like locals could soon be able to do so too.

Gambling Laws in Neighbouring Countries

It is always interesting to examine how nearby countries treat the online gambling industry. With that in mind, let's have a look at some of the most remarkable examples:

⏩ Kyrgyzstan: The initial gambling law of 2011 introduced a strict prohibition on all forms of gambling, including betting, casino games, bingo, and poker. The aim was to combat the rising levels of poverty and crime. However, the legislation lacks clarity. Consequently, players find ways to circumvent the restrictions and access Kyrgyzstan betting sites without many problems.

⏩ Russia: From one perspective, land-based sportsbooks and casinos are legal across the entire region. However, online gambling is restricted to only five designated areas. Furthermore, there exist over 20 licensed Russian bookies, yet players still have the option to access international operators.

⏩ Uzbekistan: Following a 2007 vote, a complete prohibition on all forms of gambling was implemented. We expected a change by the end of 2021 but it has not yet materialized. Note that, up until now, those who play on Uzbekistan betting sites have not yet encountered severe penalties.

Online Betting Tajikistan: What the Future Holds

Reports indicate that there have been efforts to legalize casinos again. If that happens, a proper gambling authority could eventually come to life in Tajikistan. The tricky part is that 98% of the population here are muslims; so, principally, it makes it difficult for locals to accept gambling.

Until any major changes spring up, the situation will remain as it stands; players engage in sports betting in Tajikistan, as it is legal in its entirety. At the same time, as technology improves and bettors familiarize themselves with it, more and more will be joining Tajikistan online bookies.