The khokim of Namangan Region, Shavkat Abdurazakov, raised at a meeting the issue of stricter regulation of claw arcade machines, including the possible introduction of licensing. He noted that schoolchildren are increasingly spending money given to them for food, while the cost of a single attempt is 2,000 soums and the chance of winning is estimated at about 1 in 16. 

According to the regional head, such machines can negatively affect children’s psychology and behavior by awakening a sense of азарт. At the same time, Abdurazakov called for tighter oversight of the operation of computer clubs as well:

“Children sit in computer clubs at night. They don’t read books. This, too, is slowly turning into ‘xbet.’ In some computer clubs, children are directly given a link to ‘xbet,’” Abdurazakov said.