The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) has expressed concern over the growing volume of financial flows linked to illegal gambling activities. The regulator noted that significant sums are being transferred abroad through unauthorised betting and gambling operations.

Speaking at a press conference, CBA Chairman Taleh Kazimov said that some individuals are opening bank card accounts and then handing them over to third parties for use in gambling activities with foreign operators. He stressed that these are “extremely large amounts,” with transaction volumes already reaching “millions of manats.”

Kazimov also stated that banks and financial institutions are required to promptly report suspicious transactions to the Financial Monitoring Service and must not act as intermediaries for illegal operations.

Earlier in March, the cybercrime division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs dismantled an unlicensed online casino network and detained four suspects linked to overseas gambling platforms. 

According to investigators, they promoted illegal websites via social media and operated virtual cash desks within Azerbaijan. Electronic devices, bank cards, and mobile phones were seized during the operation.

Source