Kazakhstan revises gambling revenue distribution rules

The Kazakh Government has approved new rules for distributing contributions from gambling operators. The funds will support sports development, Olympic programmes, charitable initiatives and the country’s Unified Monitoring System for Gambling.

Since March 2026, sports betting and totalisator operators in Kazakhstan have been required to contribute 3.3% of each accepted bet.

Under Government Resolution No. 889, effective 24 October, 75% of these contributions will go to an organisation responsible for developing physical education and sports. An additional 7% will go to the National Olympic Committee fund to support Olympic sports, and 5% will go to the Kazakhstan Khalkyna public foundation. This national charitable foundation supports initiatives in healthcare, education, social welfare, culture, and sports. The remaining 13% will fund the monitoring system.

In a separate development, active gamblers may face stricter assessments when applying for loans from microfinance organisations.

Kazakhstan’s financial regulator has introduced rules requiring lenders to consider only officially documented income when assessing loan applications from borrowers identified as active gamblers.

Under the criteria, a borrower falls into this category if they have made at least six payments to gambling operators over six months, totalling more than KZT 300,000 ($665). Microfinance organisations will use credit reports to verify payment dates and amounts.

In August 2026, similar income-assessment rules for gamblers applying for bank loans were introduced.

Since Kazakhstan launched its Unified Monitoring System for Gambling in March, it has restricted more than 180,000 people from gambling, according to the Gambling Monitoring and Analysis Centre.

The figures include 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.