As for the future of the gambling market, I think you all have some preliminary ideas in mind. In the next few years, the overseas gambling market may become the main development direction. Just like the strategic direction of our TC-Gaming White Label, it is now all oriented towards the overseas market.

Today, the editor of TC-Gaming would like to introduce a Central Asian country to you - Uzbekistan. For the editor of TC-Gaming, the Internet environment in developing countries provides a better living space for iGaming. In the past few decades, Uzbekistan's economy has improved greatly. Although it declined from 2016 to 2018, the economy began to gradually recover from 2019. As a country with a recovering economy, it also involves the gambling markets of Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan in terms of language. Therefore, its gambling market has great potential and is worth studying. Therefore, today we will talk to all the gambling masters about the analysis and forecast of the Uzbek gambling market.

Overview of Uzbekistan

Maybe you don't know much about Uzbekistan, but as long as you see the word "Stan", you can basically guess that this country is either in the Middle East or in Central Asia. In addition, some European regions also have similar situations. Because the Persian Empire was very powerful at that time, these regions all had a Persian "Stan".

Uzbekistan's geographical location

Uzbekistan is located in Central Asia. It is a landlocked country without access to the sea. It borders Kazakhstan to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the southeast, Afghanistan to the south, and Turkmenistan to the west. This unique geographical location makes Uzbekistan an important hub in Central Asia, connecting the trade routes between the East and the West. In fact, Uzbekistan's central location in Central Asia enables it to radiate not only to neighboring countries but also to have a profound impact in terms of economy, culture, and politics. This also enables Uzbekistan to attract gambling users in the region to participate in online betting.

Uzbekistan's Economy

Since 2016, the Uzbek government has implemented a series of comprehensive economic reform measures aimed at promoting the development of the market economy and improving the investment environment at home and abroad. It has provided more economic incentives. At the same time, the Uzbek government has actively sought to open up to the outside world and attract foreign investment.

In recent years, Uzbekistan's economic and trade relations with China, Russia, South Korea, and other countries have continued to deepen, with cooperation areas covering energy, infrastructure construction, agriculture, high-tech industries, etc. Cooperation projects in the fields of transportation, logistics, finance, and other fields have made significant progress.

Uzbekistan's gross domestic product (GDP) has maintained steady growth in recent years. According to the Uzbek National Statistics Service, the GDP in 2023 is expected to be about 101.6 billion US dollars, an increase of 10.7 billion US dollars from last year, and the per capita GDP is about 2,496 US dollars. In contrast, in 2016, the per capita GDP was only 1,604 US dollars. This shows that Uzbekistan's economy has been in a state of rapid development in recent years.

Religion in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country. Islam has deep historical roots in Uzbekistan and occupies a dominant position in it. The vast majority of residents believe in the Sunni sect of Islam. In addition, there are a small number of residents who believe in other religions such as Orthodox Christianity, Catholicism, and Judaism.

Therefore, for gambling platforms, Islamic countries may face obstacles in terms of doctrine, but there are two sides to the coin. However, the potential of the iGaming market in some Muslim countries is huge, especially among young people. At the same time, technological advances have enabled iGaming platforms to better hide and protect user identities, reducing the risk of being discovered and punished. This provides some players with a safe and convenient way to participate in iGaming.

Languages in Uzbekistan

Regarding the language situation in Uzbekistan, their native Uzbek is designated as the official language, but there is a noteworthy phenomenon: Russian is still widely used as a common language in the country. Russia has obvious advantages in the iGaming market in Uzbekistan and its neighboring countries. This advantage is not only reflected in language communication but also in cultural identity and the convenience of business operations. At the same time, the Internet penetration rate in Uzbekistan and its neighboring countries is increasing year by year, which provides huge potential for the development of the iGaming market. The use of Russian can enable iGaming platforms to enter these emerging markets faster and occupy market share. By using Russian, iGaming platforms can better cover a wide range of user groups, build trust, and provide services that are closer to user needs. Therefore, Russia has become an important competitive advantage for iGaming platforms to compete for market share in Central Asia.

About Russian in Uzbekistan

HISTORICAL REASONS

Uzbekistan and its neighboring countries were once part of the former Soviet Union, so Russian is still widely spoken in these countries. Although the official language of Uzbekistan is Uzbek, Russian is still the main language used by many people, especially the older generation and the more educated.

A WIDER RANGE OF GAMBLING USERS

Using Russian can reach a wider audience, including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and other Central Asian countries. Many people in these countries are fluent in Russian, allowing iGaming platforms to communicate and interact with users more effectively. These countries have many cultural similarities, so iGaming platforms using Russian are better able to understand and meet the needs and preferences of users in these regions. This not only makes gambling users more trusting of Russian interfaces and services, but also significantly improves the loyalty and trust of users of iGaming platforms. Further enhancing user experience and satisfaction.

Uzbekistan Population

As of January 2024, the total population of Uzbekistan is 35.43 million.

POPULATION GROWTH

In the one-year period from the beginning of 2023 to the beginning of 2024, Uzbekistan's population increased by 523,000, a growth rate of 1.5%.

GENDER DISTRIBUTION

Uzbekistan's population is fairly evenly distributed in terms of gender:

• Female: 49.9% of the total population
• Male: 50.1% of the total population

URBAN AND RURAL DISTRIBUTION

Uzbekistan's population is also relatively evenly distributed between urban and rural areas:

• Urban residents: 50.6% of the total population
• Rural residents: 49.4% of the total population

AGE STRUCTURE

The average age of Uzbekistan's population is 27.1 years old, and a young average age generally means a higher labor supply and greater economic potential.

DISTRIBUTION BY AGE GROUP

A higher proportion of young people is also likely to generate greater demand for technology, entertainment, and online services. As young people gradually enter the labor market, they will become an important force driving economic growth.

• 0 to 4 years old: 11.0%
• 5 to 12 years old: 15.6%
• 13 to 17 years old: 8.4%
• 18 to 24 years old: 10.1%
• 25 to 34 years old: 16.7%
• 35 to 44 years old: 14.6%
• 45 to 54 years old: 10.4%
• 55 to 64 years old: 7.8%
• 65 years and above: 5.4%

Internet in Uzbekistan

The state of digitalization in Uzbekistan in 2024

Uzbekistan has made remarkable achievements in digitalization. High Internet penetration, extensive mobile connections, and increasing social media users all show the country's rapid development in information technology and communications. These digital infrastructures not only bring convenience to personal life but also provide new impetus for economic growth and social progress.

Mobile connections in Uzbekistan in 2024

As of the beginning of 2024, the number of mobile cellular connections in Uzbekistan is 33.81 million. The number of mobile connections is equivalent to 95.5% of the total population. Compared with previous years, the number of mobile connections has increased by 1.5 million (+4.6%).

Considering Uzbekistan's population and economy, I tend to think that these connections are mostly used for work.

INTERNET USERS

The number of Internet users in Uzbekistan reached 29.52 million, accounting for 83.3% of the total population. Compared with January 2023-January 2024, the number of Internet users in Uzbekistan increased by 436,000 (+1.5%).

SOCIAL MEDIA USERS

In January 2024, Uzbekistan had 8.7 million social media users, which is 24.6% of the total population. Despite this relatively low percentage, social media still has a large influence among young people and urban populations. And don't forget the neighboring Russian-speaking countries.

However, between the beginning of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, the number of social media users in Uzbekistan increased by 4.5 million (+107%) compared to previous years. It is conceivable that young people today are beginning to use social media in large numbers. Although the number of social media users cannot represent a single individual, the difference is not too big.

There is also data from social media platform advertising planning tools, which show that as of February 2024, the number of social media users aged 18 and above in Uzbekistan is 7.5 million, accounting for 32.6% of the total population in this age group. Among them, women account for 37.0% and men account for 63.0%.

MOBILE CONNECTIVITY

As of January 2024, Uzbekistan has a total of 33.81 million cellular mobile connections, equivalent to 95.5% of the total population. Seeing this data and the previous social media user example, I think all the gambling bosses know more about marketing than marketing, and everyone understands it without saying it.

Internet connection speed in Uzbekistan in 2024

Mobile Internet connection speed

The average mobile Internet connection speed on cellular networks in Uzbekistan is 24.70 Mbps.

Fixed Internet connection speed

The average fixed internet connection speed was 55.45 Mbps.

Speed growth

In the 12 months to January 2024, the average mobile internet connection speed in Uzbekistan increased by 10.15 Mbps, a growth rate of 69.8%. The speed of fixed internet connections increased by 10.20 Mbps (+22.5%) in the same period.

Facebook users in Uzbekistan in 2024

According to Metadata, by January 2024, the number of Facebook users in Uzbekistan is 2.15 million. This is equivalent to 6.1% of the total population. This is 8.3% of the number of social users over the age of 13, which is equivalent to 7.3% of local Internet users. Among them, 31.9% are women and 68.1% are men. The same data states that Facebook's potential reach in Uzbekistan has increased by 500,000 compared to previous years.

Profile of Instagram users in Uzbekistan in 2024

According to the latest data, in January 2024, the number of Instagram users in Uzbekistan reached 8.7 million. This is equivalent to 24.6% of the country's total population, which means that one in every four people is an Instagram user. If only the population over 13 years old is considered, this proportion rises to 33.5%, that is, more than one-third of teenagers and adults are using this social media platform. In addition, Instagram users account for 29.5% of the entire Internet user base in Uzbekistan, that is, almost one-third of Internet users are active on Instagram. Among these users, female users account for 37.0%, while male users account for 63.0%.

Overview of TikTok users in Uzbekistan in 2024

According to data from Byte Dance's advertising resources, at the beginning of 2024, there were 3.12 million TikTok users aged 18 and over in Uzbekistan. This figure is equivalent to 13.6% of the adult population aged 18 and over in Uzbekistan. If the local Internet user group regardless of age is taken into account, these TikTok users account for 10.6% of the total number of Internet users. Among these users, 34.7% are female and 65.3% are male. These data show that among TikTok's audience in Uzbekistan, there are significantly more male users than female users, and this platform has considerable popularity among young adults.Why there are more men than women, I personally estimate it is because of religious reasons. When I was doing data, I often found that religion affects the gender ratio of the number of social media users.

Facebook Messenger users in Uzbekistan in 2024

At the beginning of 2024, Facebook Messenger had 588,300 users in Uzbekistan, accounting for 1.7% of the total population, 2.3% of the population over 13 years old, and 2.0% of the population regardless of age. 33% of users are female and 67% are male.

From January 2023 to January 2024, the number of users increased by 26,000 (+4.5%). However, from October 2023 to January 2024, the advertising audience decreased by 19,000 (-3.2%).

LinkedIn profile for Uzbekistan in 2024

LinkedIn data shows that as of January 2024, LinkedIn has 630,000 "members" in Uzbekistan. This number is equivalent to 1.8% of the country's total population and 2.7% of people over the age of 18. In addition, these members are equivalent to 2.1% of the country's Internet users over the age of 18. Among these members, 31.2% are women and 68.8% are men, showing a large gender difference.

In the past year, the number of LinkedIn members in Uzbekistan increased by 170,000, an increase of 37.0%. If calculated on a quarterly basis, from October 2023 to January 2024, the number of members increased by 50,000, an increase of 8.6%. These data show that LinkedIn's user growth in the country is very rapid, and it also shows that the people of Uzbekistan have begun to accept Internet life in large numbers and apply the Internet to their lives.

X user profile in Uzbekistan in 2024

According to X (Twitter) data, as of early 2024, X had 165,400 users in Uzbekistan. This was equivalent to 0.5% of the total population at the time. This was 0.6% of local Internet users. Of these, 23.6% were women, while 76.4% were men.

Uzbekistan communication software download ranking

The Uzbek gambling market is growing rapidly, and communication applications play a key role in this process. These applications are not only the main tools for social interaction and communication but also provide gambling operators with an effective platform for interaction and promotion with users.

UZBEKISTAN COMMUNICATION SOFTWARE DOWNLOAD RANKING IN GOOGLE STORE

1. Telegram
2. WhatsApp Messenger
3. Snapchat
4. Plus Messenger
5. Graph Messenger
6. WhatsApp Business
7. Ucell
8. aka Messenger
9. imo-International Calls & Chat
10. aka lite

UZBEKISTAN SOCIAL SOFTWARE DOWNLOAD RANKING IN IPHONE STORE

1. Telegram Messenger
2. WhatsApp Messenger
3. Threads, an Instagram app
4. TG Plus Messenger
5. aka
6. Facebook
7. iMe Messenger & Crypto Wallet
8. VK: social network, messenger
9. BIGO LIVE-Live Stream, Go Live
10. X for Telegram Messenger

Gambling in Uzbekistan

17 years after gambling and other risky games were banned in Uzbekistan, the long wait for legal gambling for Uzbek gamblers is now coming to an end.

History of gambling in Uzbekistan

In 2007, former President Islam Karimov signed an executive order banning all forms of gambling, including lotteries and horse racing. The ban was implemented with strong religious influences. However, the legalization of gambling in Uzbekistan has been a hotly debated topic, and the government has tried several times to regulate the industry.

Since 2019, President Mirziyoyev's office has been developing plans to establish a full betting system to end Uzbekistan's ban on betting. Initially, a decree entitled "Rebuilding Football and Sports in Uzbekistan" authorized the expected legalization of the betting market to be completed by the end of 2021, and to launch a separate sports betting system. However, the rollout of these plans has been delayed due to difficulties in identifying the body responsible for modernizing sports and developing programs for athletes.

After several failed attempts, it was not until 2021 that President Mirziyoyev instructed Parliament to draft a comprehensive decree regulating all forms of gambling. The introduction of this decree means that Uzbek sports clubs will be allowed to sign sponsorship agreements with overseas bookmakers. Despite this, it was not until the President called for the development of a comprehensive gambling regulatory framework in April 2023 and tasked multiple government agencies, including the National Capital Market Agency, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Sports, and the National Vision Project Agency, with this major initiative that the relevant legislative and regulatory work was gradually carried out.

The establishment of this new gambling regulatory framework marks an important turning point in Uzbekistan's path to legalizing gambling. The government hopes that through the establishment of this framework, it will not only effectively regulate gambling activities, but also bring new fiscal revenue to the country and promote the development of the sports industry.

Uzbekistan legalizes iGaming

On April 19, President Mirziyoyev signed a new decree regulating lotteries and gambling. The information was released by the National Agency for Perspective Planning (NAPP) and the press service of the Ministry of Justice. From January 1, 2025, online and offline gambling will be allowed in Uzbekistan, and licenses will be issued by NAPP. The Economic Crime Department will monitor the compliance of gambling organizers.

Online lottery and betting operators or organizers are subject to a 4% income tax, and licenses are renewed every 5 years. Only adult residents and tourists in Uzbekistan are allowed to participate in licensed betting, online betting, and lotteries. Winnings from lotteries, online slots, and sports betting by individuals will be exempt from income tax.

Muynak gambling district in Uzbekistan

In 2019, Uzbek officials announced a resolution to boost the country's economic development by expanding tourism, which also brought new hope to the country's gambling industry. According to this resolution, it is planned to establish a legal gambling zone in the city of Muynak as one of the measures to revitalize the city. According to the original plan, by the end of 2020, Muynak will be transformed into a modern entertainment and tourism cluster.

The project includes the construction of an independent administrative unit, which will include several hotel complexes, shopping centers, casinos, poker rooms, and other forms of gambling and entertainment. This gambling zone will be exclusively open to foreign tourists.

Within this dedicated area, the Uzbek government also intends to organize several operational areas, including:

• Sports (possibly building a track for the Muynak Rally)
• Trading
• Religious Tourism

There is not much information available about the project; the Uzbek government has not recently made any comments or disclosed new details on the matter. While officials have not announced any new legislative developments, the project has not been publicly canceled. If the project continues, it is expected to be at least after 2025.

What are the popular gambling games in Uzbekistan?

Currently, gambling is prohibited in Uzbekistan. However, from January 1, 2025, gaming and betting will be licensed. Only adult residents and tourists in Uzbekistan are eligible to participate in these gambling games.

In Uzbekistan, although the gambling industry is still developing, some common popular gambling games include:

1. Slot Machines: Slot machines are very popular all over the world, and Uzbekistan is no exception. The various bonuses and reward mechanisms make it the first choice for many people to have fun and try their luck.
2. Baccarat: The charm of Baccarat lies in its fast pace and extremely low house advantage.
3. Roulette: The outcome is determined by a spinning wheel and ball, which is also common in the gambling environment in Uzbekistan.
4. Poker: Different types of poker games, such as Texas Hold'em and Omaha, are also popular in the Uzbek gambling environment.
5. Blackjack: The game of Blackjack is popular for its simple rules and deep strategies.

What are the payment methods and e-wallets in Uzbekistan?

• BANK CARD

  UzCard: A bank card payment system issued by Uzbekistan, widely used for domestic consumption and withdrawals.

  Visa: An internationally renowned credit card brand, accepted at most merchants and ATMs in Uzbekistan.

  MasterCard: Another international credit card brand, also accepted at most merchants and ATMs.

• Electronic Payment: UZBEKISTAN IS GRADUALLY PROMOTING ELECTRONIC PAYMENT METHODS. THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME COMMON ELECTRONIC PAYMENT TOOLS:

  UzCard: This is Uzbekistan's domestically issued bank card payment system, widely used for domestic transactions.

  Payme: A popular mobile payment platform in Uzbekistan that allows users to make payments and transfer money via their mobile phones.

  Click: Another local e-payment platform that offers similar services including paying bills and online shopping.

  Skrill and Neteller are two widely used e-wallets internationally, and while their usage in Uzbekistan may not be as widespread as local payment methods, they play an important role in cross-border payments and iGaming.

  WebMoney: Although not a local e-wallet, it is also used in international payments in Uzbekistan. It supports online payments, transfers, and account management.

  Qiwi: Another international e-wallet that allows users to make online payments and transfer money. Qiwi also offers services in Uzbekistan and is gradually gaining acceptance.

• CRYPTOCURRENCY

  Although the use of cryptocurrencies is not yet widespread in Uzbekistan, some investors and merchants have begun accepting cryptocurrencies as a payment method.

Summary

The gambling market in Uzbekistan is undergoing a transformation. The gambling market is gradually moving towards legalization and standardization. With the gradual liberalization of policies and the continuous development of the market, the popularity of social media, the Internet, and mobile payments have provided new opportunities for gambling-related industries and gambling investors. However, although the gambling market in Uzbekistan shows great potential and development prospects, there are still some problems and difficulties that need attention.

Challenges and risks of iGaming in Uzbekistan

1. Policy environment: Although the government has begun to formulate legal and regulatory frameworks, the specific implementation details and regulatory intensity remain to be seen.
2. Social and cultural factors: Uzbekistan is a country with a deep religious and cultural background. Gambling activities may face certain social and cultural resistance. How to balance online will be a problem that iGaming platforms will have to face.
3. Technology and Infrastructure: While internet and mobile payment technology in Uzbekistan are improving, infrastructure is still inadequate in some areas. This could affect the popularity and convenience of iGaming and payment systems.
4. Market competition: With the opening of the gambling market, Uzbekistan will attract a large number of domestic and foreign gambling companies to enter the market. How to stand out in the fierce market competition and quickly occupy the Uzbekistan gambling market will be a challenge.

With the advancement of digitalization, Uzbekistan's iGaming platform will become the main trend of future development. Against this background, Uzbekistan's gambling market will undoubtedly usher in a golden period of prosperity and development. For gambling platform operators and investors, now is the best time to enter this emerging market.

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