Kazakhstan confirms new casino zones
Mangystau and Almaty have been identified as regions for new casinos in Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan.- The areas have been confirmed for new foreign-only casinos in Kazakhstan. According to the Committee for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, new casino zones will be developed in the Tepliy Plyazh area of the Mangystau region and at the Akbulak international tourist centre in the Almaty region.
Officials said the projects will be carried out through private investment. The designated areas were selected for their existing infrastructure and tourism potential, with local authorities responsible for defining the exact boundaries of the gambling zones.
The announcement builds on legislative changes approved earlier this month that allow the establishment of additional casino zones in Mangystau, Almaty, East Kazakhstan, and Zhetysu. The new developments will join the country’s existing gambling destinations in Borovoye and Kapchagay.
Socio-economic assessments conducted by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports indicate generally supportive public sentiment toward the initiative, particularly in the Almaty and Zhetysu regions. Government estimates suggest that casino projects in Almaty could generate approximately US$12.7m in tax revenue by 2028, alongside the creation of up to 2,000 permanent jobs.
Across the proposed regions, authorities project that each new casino could contribute between KZT2bn and KZT3bn (US$3.9m–US$5.8m) in annual tax revenue, in addition to supporting employment in hospitality, transport and related services.
