Azerbaijan Parliament set to vote on legalising casinos on artificial islands in the Caspian Sea
Draft amendments to legalise casinos for the first time in 25 years in Azerbaijan have been presented to parliament with proposals being heard that would allow gaming floors on artificial islands in the Caspian Sea.
Annual licence fees would be set at $200,000 with singer and businessman Emin Agalarov, the former son-in-law of President Ilham Aliyev, keen to open a casino at his Sea Breeze resort on the Absheron Peninsula, which is already located on man-made land.
Mr Agalarov told a local journalist: “Sea Breeze would benefit significantly if we could integrate the gambling business. This is being considered by the state. Everyone understands that casinos are a tourist attraction. If this plan can be implemented, the project will be completely finished.”
He believes the Nardaran settlement where Sea Breeze is located could become the ‘Absheron Las Vegas.’
MP Vugar Bayramov, a member of the Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship Committee, detailed how the gaming sector across the world will generate $745bn a year by 2028.
Speaking to Report news agency, he said: “Many tourism countries allow casino operations, and this could be one such step for Azerbaijan. Although Georgia is smaller than Azerbaijan in territory and population, it leads in tourism revenues. A significant portion of Georgian casino revenues comes from foreign clients, including tourists from Azerbaijan.”
Economist Rovshan Aghayev went on record with Meydan TV as saying: “Azerbaijan is not really a tourist country, no matter how much the government promotes it. A tourist country would never keep its land borders closed for so long. In the region, there are countries like Georgia that have created conditions for casino operations. Kazakhstan has also created such conditions in some regions.”
Legislation would need changes to several laws, including the criminal code and administrative offence regulations with Parliament reportedly set to vote on the proposal soon.
