Since Kazakhstan launched its Unified Monitoring System for Gambling in March, it has restricted more than 180,000 people from gambling, according to Gambling Monitoring and Analysis Centre.
The figures includes over 23,000 who self-excluded and more than 31,000 minors. The system checks these restrictions in real time whenever someone attempts to use a licensed gambling operator.
People blocked from gambling in Kazakhstan include under-21s, self-excluded individuals, certain debtors and people subject to court restrictions, as well as certain public officials and government personnel.
The system brings together transaction monitoring, identity and eligibility checks, enforcement of legal restrictions, internet monitoring, data analysis and financial controls.
The aim is to move gambling regulation away from relying mainly on inspections and reviewing transactions after they happen, toward real-time digital monitoring and enforcement.
The system also monitors the illegal online gambling market by identifying and tracking websites and other platforms operating outside Kazakhstan's legal framework.
Earlier this year, Kazakhstan introduced updated rules restricting access to casinos, slot machine halls and betting venues in several regions to foreign nationals only. These changes took effect on 17 May.
At the same time, new gambling zones, also limited to foreign nationals, are planned. This follows the President's February signature of the law establishing these zones.
Alongside the existing zones in Kapchagay and Burabay, four new areas may be created in the Mangystau, Zhetysu, Almaty and East Kazakhstan regions.
Earlier this month, regional authorities defined five potential gambling locations across three regions. They designated areas near Lake Alakol, the Caspian Sea and Lake Markakol.
Earlier this year, the Kazakh Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) issued instructions to telecom providers to strengthen monitoring and introduce systems to detect and block suspicious transactions
