Kazakhstan is preparing to establish two new foreign-only casino zones as part of a wider strategy to bolster tourism, according to reports by Kursiv Media.
The Committee for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports confirmed that casino operations would be authorised in the Tepliy Plyazh area of the Mangystau region and at the Akbulak international tourist center in the Almaty region.
The facilities will be developed entirely through private investment, with authorities emphasising that access will be limited exclusively to foreign visitors. Kazakh citizens will not be permitted to gamble in these venues, maintaining the country’s long-standing restrictions on domestic casino access.
Officials said they do not expect the expansion to significantly increase gambling addiction among local residents. They argue the remote locations and foreign-only rules will keep domestic exposure low, even as tourism infrastructure expands.
The move comes as concerns over online gambling continue to grow. Earlier this year, Sapar Rakhmensheyev, head of the Almaty Mental Health Center, warned that online casinos pose the greatest risk to problem gamblers because of their accessibility and constant availability.
Lawmakers have similarly turned their attention to digital gambling harms. Senate Deputy Gennady Shipovskikh recently proposed banning online casino advertising on social media, equating its promotion with the advertising of drugs, pornography and “miracle cures.” The proposal reflects mounting pressure on the government to tighten oversight of the online gambling landscape.
Kazakhstan restricts casinos to designated zones, and online gambling is currently considered the fastest-growing source of gambling harm
