Kazakhstan PM says banks blocked US$21m in illegal online casino payments in six months
Olzhas Bektenov says 402,000 gambling-related transactions were stopped between October 2025 and March 2026.
Kazakhstan.- Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has informed Kazakhstan’s Parliament that banks blocked 402,000 gambling-related transactions worth more than KZT10bn (US$21m) over six months ending in March 2026. He said the country had also blacklisted foreign online casino operators and 110 payment providers.
Since the start of the year, authorities have opened 15 criminal cases covering 40 instances of illegal online casino activity and detained 11 financial sector employees accused of assisting such activity, he said. In addition, 1,144 bank cards used by alleged money mules have been frozen, with further investigations under way.
The country’s Unified System for Accounting of Betting and Gambling Games, launched in March, had identified approximately 433,000 people by early June and blocked more than 135,000 from placing bets. Most of those excluded were registered debtors, while others had voluntarily self-excluded or were subject to additional legal restrictions.
