Kazakhstan approves four new zones for casino development
Four regions in Kazakhstan have been designated for the construction of new casinos, for which entry will be open to foreign nationals only. As it stands, there are currently only two zones, those being the Schuchinsk-Borovoye resort area in the Amkola region and Konayev in the Almaty region, where casino operations are present in Kazakhstan. They will be joined by the four new regions which have been designated by the amendment to the Law ‘On Gambling Business’ signed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The regions in question have been identified as the Mangistau region, the Almaty region’s Talgar district, the Zhetysu region’s Panfilov district, as well as the Zaisan district and the Markakol area in the East Kazakhstan region.
Land and entry restrictions
It is to be noted that slot machine halls, betting shops, and casinos are prohibited from being placed within protected natural areas and land which has particular historical or cultural significance for Kazakhstan. Such facilities are also prohibited from being placed within land which is reserved for the purpose of national security or defence.
With regard to who is specifically allowed entry into the establishments which will be constructed in the designated zones, Kazakh officials have stated that entry will be limited to foreign citizens and employees of gambling establishments, as well as other individuals who may be present in connection with carrying out official duties.
Boosting Kazakhstan’s tourism sector
On the process of choosing the locations of the new casinos, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports had stated that such decisions would depend on various factors, including road access, utilities, the readiness and state of surrounding services, as well as proximity to existing tourist attractions.
While previously speaking about the planned casino developments, the Tourism and Sports Ministry estimated that the planned casinos could generate between $3 million and $6 million in tax revenues each year while also creating around 500 local jobs. With that said, local officials have signalled that Kazakhstan remains intent on maintaining fiscal discipline in tandem with its efforts to encourage investment, as they have stated that the tax burden on gambling operators will not be reduced as part of the expansion efforts.
Efforts to facilitate casino expansion in Kazakhstan have largely come during the rise of tourism activity and investment in the country, with local media reports indicating that investment in the country’s tourism sector between January and October 2025 rose by over 38 per cent year on year to about $2 billion.
This was in addition to increasing visitor numbers, with government data showing that 12.1 million foreign nationals had visited Kazakhstan for tourism purposes between January and September. 8.6 million of those 12.1 million visitors stayed for more than one day. Additionally, domestic travel has also reportedly remained active, where accommodation facilities across the country have been utilised by millions of residents.
Efforts to combat local problem gambling
In 2024, the government of Kazakhstan implemented a law aimed at combating gambling addiction within the country. The law at the time affected approximately 280,000 public servants, and also prohibited gambling for debtors, which at the time meant placing restrictions on around 3.5 million people.
Through the law, Telecom operators were no longer allowed to send gambling-related advertisements. It also banned unlicensed foreign bookies, lotteries, and online casinos, while also raising the minimum age for betting to 21.
When plans to designate new zones for casino operations were announced, concerns had been raised about whether such developments would undermine efforts to address local problem gambling. Government officials had argued that risks could be managed through regulation, enforcement, and zoning, and had also stated that the main customer base was expected to be foreign nationals rather than local players.
With the regions now having been designated following the President of Kazakhstan signing the new amendments, it seems that the government has stayed in line with this reasoning by restricting the new casinos to foreign nationals only.
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