Economy of Azerbaijanís anticipated benefits from casino legalization
In the heart of the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan is making waves in the global tourism industry with its recent move to legalize commercial casinos. After a 27-year ban, the decision, announced in July 2025, is expected to significantly boost the country's tourism sector and aid economic diversification, moving away from oil dependency.
This strategic push towards tourism is a departure from neighbouring countries Georgia and Russia, where casino markets have been established for longer. Azerbaijan aims to leverage its unique regional assets and newly opened gambling venues to increase visitor spending and create jobs, positioning itself as a tourist destination that offers liberal opportunities.
The legalization in Azerbaijan is anticipated to create favourable conditions for expanding both domestic and inbound tourism, particularly attracting tourists from the wider ECO region, which recently showed a 22% growth in tourism revenue. This contrasts with Georgia, which benefits from a mature casino tourism sector, and Russia, where casino gambling is more restricted and regionally concentrated.
Azerbaijan's approach is embedded in a broader economic diversification strategy that embraces tourism, infrastructure, and cultural promotion. The casino expansion is viewed as a driver for new tourism segments and economic growth beyond hydrocarbons.
Georgia, on the other hand, has long been a "casino cluster" in the region. In 2024, the casino turnover in Georgia reached an impressive 28 billion USD, contributing significantly to the country's economy. Over 20,000 people are employed in the sector, with the average monthly salary standing at 1,182 USD—relatively high compared to other sectors.
Tourists are increasingly attracted to countries that offer entertainment and freedom of choice, including casinos. The casino sector in Georgia, the most liberalized in the South Caucasus, is a testament to this trend.
The Azeri-Press Agency has been at the forefront of reporting on the expansion of commercial casinos in Azerbaijan. As the country continues to develop its casino infrastructure, it is poised to join the ranks of established casino tourism destinations like Georgia and Russia.
In summary, while Azerbaijan is newly entering the commercial casino market, the policy shift is viewed as a catalyst for tourism growth and economic diversification, aiming to build on recent gains in regional tourist arrivals and spending, and gradually closing the gap with more established casino tourism destinations. The global trend towards liberal tourism opportunities suggests that Azerbaijan's strategy could be a successful one.
The Azerbaijani government's decision to legalize commercial casinos is anticipated to broaden both domestic and foreign business in the tourism industry, aiming to attract more visitors from the ECO region and create job opportunities. In line with this strategy, Azerbaijan aspires to rival established casino tourism destinations such as Georgia and Russia, which have already thriving finance sectors in their casino markets.
