Best Azerbaijan betting sites

Population: 9.900.000
Active players: 2.900.000
Currency: Manat (AZN)
Regulated gambling products: Sports betting, lottery
Operator types: Online & land-based sports betting monopoly (eTopaz), international non-licensed online bookies
Designated authority: Ministry of Economic Development
Status: Regulated

Azerbaijan, a country with rich history, was part of the USSR until 1991 when it declared its independence. Its gambling landscape kicked off during the 90s. The initially loose approach of the government towards betting came to an end in 1997, when a nationwide gambling ban was imposed by the president. As a result, all Azerbaijan sports betting activities were stopped and a massive black market emerged. After years the state finally searched for solutions and in 2011 betting was declared legal again. Ever since then, eTopaz has held the monopoly among betting sites in Azerbaijan. However, a 10% tax is imposed on the winnings of those who bet on the local operator. Therefore, in order to avoid getting taxed, many players place their bets at international bookmakers, such as 1xBet and Bet365, who offer a big variety of markets and high odds.

Bet Azerbaycan - 5 things to know

• Legal minimum gambling age in Azerbaijan  is 18
• Online and offline casinos are still illegal
• No legal action is taken against players who bet at international bookies
• Players’ winnings when betting on eTopaz are subject to 10% tax
• There are no payment restrictions on online bookmakers

Best betting sites Azerbaijan

The following shortlist consists of the top bet sites in Azerbaijan. We selected them as they offer the local language and currency, along with a wide array of betting markets and great promotions on a daily basis.

Online betting Azerbaijan: The gambling law framework

Betting in Azerbaijan hasn’t always been as stable as it is today. The sports betting environment has been developing since the 1991 country’s independence. In 1997 though, the president decided to ban all gambling activities, after his son allegedly fell under a USD 6 million debt to a Turkish tycoon. Casinos were shut down immediately, while extensive anti-gambling measures were passed into law the following year.

Between 1997 and 2011 betting was illegal in the country and this had Azeri players looking for bookies in the black market to place their bets. As of 2011, online sports betting has been deemed legal under the law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Physical Education and Sports", while this didn't apply to online casinos. All this shaping of the betting environment finally led to a state-owned monopoly with the establishment of eTopaz, which is subject to a 6% tax.

Essential information for Azeri bettors

Having covered the legal framework for the bet online Azerbaycan sector, it’s time to focus on some valuable information regarding players. More specifically, every bettor who opts for eTopaz is subject to a 10% tax on his winnings. Betting on international bookmakers doesn’t include this tax and that’s another reason why many players prefer them. Without a clear law on betting, but only just a few referrals inside the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Azerbaijan; players are free to place their bets at any international betting site they want, without any sort of restrictions or actions taken against them.

Which .com bookmakers accept players from Azerbaijan?

Azeri players are free to bet on any international bookie they want. However, since there are so many decent operators out there, we decided to present you the ones that really stand out.

Bet365 Azerbaijan

Bet365 differentiates from other bookmakers available in the country through a higher payout for football (97%+), especially in the top leagues. Bet365 Azerbaycan also covers the Azerbaijan Premier League excellently, with up to 100 betting markets for each match.

1xBet Azerbaijan

1xBet is renowned for the excellent localization services it offers. Besides delivering a welcome bonus that is 2 times better than what its competitors offer; 1xBet az also gives players the option to bet in Manat, as well as to use their local language throughout the website.

22Bet Azerbaijan

With 1000+ daily events and the Azerbaijani currency and language offered, 22Bet can’t be missed out. What’s more, it also has a 95% payout on the top football leagues in Europe and an array of 48+ sports to bet on.

How to deposit at online bookies

Even though there are no payment restrictions set in place by the authorities, e-wallets are still the most popular payment method in Azerbaijan. Known for their improved personal data protection, Skrill, Neteller and Qiwi are the most common among Azeri players. Despite no restrictions or penalties imposed, bettors still prefer their anonymity. Moreover, the aforementioned payments also deliver faster withdrawal processing times and reduced fees. There are also some international bookmakers - Marathonbet, 1xBet, Betwinner, 22Bet, Melbet - that offer the AZN currency; so players don’t have to worry about any currency exchange fees. Thus, if you want to place an online bet, Azerbaycan comes with plenty of deposit options.

The future of online betting in Azerbaijan

Azeri players are practically allowed to bet on any bookmaker they want, since they face no restrictions whatsoever. Ending the eTopaz monopoly though, could really boost betting online in Azerbaijan; since issuing licenses to international bookmakers would drive internal competition and services up. Players would feel more secure, knowing that there are transparent state laws to support them if needed, and it would also boost the country’s economy through taxing. As it stands, the future is uncertain; since it is on the state's hands to pull some strings and decide how it wants to shape the country's online betting market.

The complete list of Azerbaijani bookmakers