Tougher criminal liability for organizing gambling introduced in Azerbaijan

The Milli Majlis adopted in the first reading a bill to tighten penalties for organizing online gambling in Azerbaijan.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to Report, the corresponding draft amendments to the Criminal Code were put up for discussion at today's session of the extraordinary parliamentary session.

According to the document, gambling committed:

- in virtual form, including via the internet, mobile communications, social media platforms, other electronic communication means, as well as internet and mobile telecommunication applications or platforms based on other technologies;

- with allowing minors to participate in gambling;

- by a group of persons through prior conspiracy;

- with the extraction of significant income — will be punishable by a fine of up to twice the amount of income obtained as a result of the crime, or restriction of freedom for a term of 2 to 4 years, or imprisonment for the same term.

Also, for acts committed by an organized group or criminal community (criminal organization), as well as those involving the extraction of income on a large scale, punishment is provided in the form of restriction of freedom for a term of 3 to 5 years or imprisonment for the same term.

It should be noted that while the current sanction provides for a fine in a specific range (from 10 thousand to 15 thousand manats), according to the bill, the fine will be determined at up to twice the amount of income obtained as a result of the crime.

The amendments also provide for tightening penalties for repeated commission of acts related to organizing or conducting gambling, as well as organizing or maintaining gambling venues, for committing with allowing minors to participate, for committing with the extraction of income on a significant, large, or particularly large scale, and in other cases.

Thus, according to current legislation, the aforementioned acts when committed repeatedly are punishable by restriction of freedom for a term of 4 to 5 years or imprisonment for a term of 4 to 8 years.

The bill proposes to establish for such acts punishment exclusively in the form of imprisonment for a term of 5 to 8 years.