Kazakhstan expands gambling rules, cracks down on illegal payments
Kazakhstan has announced that about 464,000 individuals have applied for self-imposed gambling restrictions since the programme launched in March 2024.
According to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, authorities are also considering amending the register, including extending the maximum exclusion period to 10 years. In addition, officials are weighing penalties for operators who allow restricted individuals to gamble.
The programme is seen as a tool to curb gambling addiction, prevent financial crises, and reduce mental health risks, while steering demand toward regulated markets.
Regulatory crackdown
Since 2007, the country has legalised gambling, but limited casinos to zones like Kapchagay and Burabay. Regulation has gradually tightened, with the introduction of self-exclusion tools, strengthened enforcement, and new gambling zones between 2023 and 2025.
This trajectory mirrors a change from permissive legalisation to stricter oversight, balancing fiscal goals with public health protection. The government has also rolled out a series of regulatory and enforcement measures, including measures against illegal online payments. Authorities uncovered schemes using mobile phone balances to fund unlicensed casino activity.
The Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) has also directed telecom providers to strengthen oversight and block suspicious transactions. Meanwhile, under Government Resolution No. 167, bookmakers and totalisators must remit 3.3 per cent of each accepted bet, effective since 27 March.
Additionally, new regulations restrict entry to casinos, slot machine halls, and betting venues in several regions to foreign nationals only. Gambling zones are likewise limited to foreign visitors.
Economic impact
Data revealed the gambling sector generated over $2 billion in betting turnover last year. But tax revenues only hit $139 million, emphasising the tension between fiscal gains and tighter regulation.
Additionally, the government expanded its casino zones to help boost tourism and diversify beyond oil and gas. But challenges persist. Since April 2025, advertising bans have reduced deposits and inflows.
Launched in January 2026, the Unified Betting Accounting Systems (UAS) manages bets and enforces compliance. Yet offshore platforms shed light on their share of demand rising from 3.1 per cent to 11.3 per cent in early 2026, indicating that players were moving away from regulated channels.
Expansion of gambling zones
In February, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed legislation creating new gambling zones. Alongside Kapchagay and Burabay, four more areas may be established in Mangystau, Zhetsyu, Almaty, and East Kazakhstan.
Tourism and Sports Minister Yerbol Myrzabossynov confirmed plans for two new casinos opening next year in Almaty and Mangystau. These projects are tied to economic diversification, aiming to attract foreign capital, strengthen hospitality, and create jobs.
But the country is also strengthening anti-money laundering (AML) safeguards in its gambling sector through biometric ID checks, financial monitoring, and international cooperation. Authorities are targeting illegal betting shops and online casinos, while tightening oversight of licenced operators to protect fiscal revenue and public health, according to media reports.
Gambling regulation remains fragmented across Central Asia. While Kazakhstan leads with its zone-based model and foreign-only casinos, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan continue to explore legalisation for tourists. Meanwhile, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan ban gambling. Still, the region shares the same common challenge: balancing fiscal gains with public health and enforcement.
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