Best Tajikistan bookmakers

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

The Republic of Tajikistan is a landlocked Central Asian country, bordered by Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China. Its capital and biggest city is Dushanbe. It was part of the USSR until its independence in 1991, which was followed by a civil war. 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 00’s 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; that means casinos and made-up card or dice games. Online sports betting is also-theoretically-legal. So, apart from the few local Tajikistan bookmakers, players mainly opt for popular international ones; this happens because they look for higher odds and more betting options.

Betting in Tajikistan - 5 things to know

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

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.

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 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 officially introduce a new blockchain-based digital currency. If it goes through, it would make it only the second country worldwide-next 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.

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.

The complete list of bookmakers in Tajikistan

Tajikistan sports betting players face no restrictions when it comes to choosing their preferred bookmakers. This is why we list all the available Tajikistan betting operators. They are all totally legit and trustworthy; just stick to any of them and expect no less than a safe betting experience.