Kazakhstan's online betting market experienced a staggering growth of 965% last year, with local bettors placing $786 million in wagers online. This surge means that nearly two-thirds of the nation’s betting activity is now conducted via the internet, according to a report from Finprom, which references data from the Bureau of National Statistics.
In 2024, online gambling made up only 6% of the betting market, highlighting the significant shift in consumer behavior over the past year. In stark contrast, traditional gambling venues are seeing a decline, with land-based casinos reporting a revenue drop of more than 16%, totaling $53 million. Additionally, revenues from slot machines decreased by 17%, bringing in just $9.3 million.
The rise of online gambling has pushed the overall gambling industry's volume to an unprecedented $1.26 billion, marking a 2% increase from the previous year and a staggering thirtyfold rise since the end of the last decade. The data indicates that an increasing number of domestic companies are entering the market, reducing the influence of foreign firms. By 2025, local operators comprised nearly two-thirds of the total gambling volume, a dramatic reversal from 2024 when foreign entities held about 73% of the market share.
Interestingly, while punters wagered a total of $3.4 billion, operators paid out $2.3 billion in winnings, challenging the common belief that the house always wins.
Concerns regarding gambling addiction have emerged alongside the industry’s growth. In January, the Ministry of Finance estimated that approximately 0.7 million citizens, or 15% to 20% of the adult population, are regular bettors. Critics argue that the expansion of the gambling industry is exacerbating addiction issues.
In response, the government has implemented a self-exclusion registry, allowing individuals struggling with gambling to voluntarily ban themselves from physical casinos and online betting platforms. As reported, over 457,400 people have utilized this system, with 223,600 still active on the registry as of May.
Experts suggest that over 350,000 individuals may exhibit symptoms of gambling addiction, yet only nine have been officially diagnosed as such as of early 2026. The government has recently introduced several new regulations including a ban on bookmakers’ advertisements, an increase in the legal betting age to 21, and a prohibition on civil servants participating in online betting.
Politicians claim that many undiagnosed gambling addicts are accumulating debts. In July, a lawmaker proposed that the government consider deferring loan payments for those diagnosed with gambling addiction. Meanwhile, authorities have reported blocking illegal betting transactions totaling $21 million through domestic banks.
Despite these regulatory actions, the government continues to authorize the establishment of new land-based casino zones and is actively seeking investors to fund these initiatives.
