Residents of Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, have expressed strong opposition to the government's proposal to build a new casino on the outskirts. The plan, as reported by local TV broadcaster KTK, aims to commence construction next year, with a completion target of November 2028. The casino complex will also include a hotel, a racetrack, and over 1,500 villas and cottages, funded by private investors.
Situated in the mountainous Ak-Bulak resort area of Talgar, approximately 25 kilometers from central Almaty, the casino will only admit individuals holding foreign passports.
Local residents are concerned about the potential societal impact of the new facility. One male resident commented, “A lot of people are getting involved in casinos and gambling nowadays, especially children. If they build a casino here, we’d have a huge influx of people. It’s not acceptable.”
An elderly female resident expressed her preference for alternative development, stating, “It would be better to build sports centers for children, to create places where young people could gain knowledge and develop as people. That would be much more important for us. I don’t support the idea of building a casino.” Another younger resident added, “It’s all gambling, it’s all leading to gambling addiction. I really wouldn’t want our teenagers, our younger residents, to get involved in that.”
In response to community concerns, government officials have assured that strict ID checks will be implemented to prevent domestic passport holders from accessing the casino, with non-compliant operators facing fines or license revocation.
Despite local dissent, business groups argue that the casino will generate jobs and draw investment to the area. They highlight that existing shops, cafes, and hotels would also benefit from the new development. Zhanybek Aigazin, General Director of the Applied Economics Research Center, noted, “When some visitors come to the casino, they will find staying at the casino hotel is too expensive and will choose another hotel instead. The same goes for food and restaurants.” He also indicated potential benefits for local transport networks and agricultural producers.
Kazakhstan is home to several casinos licensed exclusively for foreign passport holders, primarily located in remote resorts. However, the government aims to establish new casinos nearer to major urban centers in the future, anticipating significant economic advantages. Officials suggest that each new casino could contribute approximately $6 million in annual tax revenue.
The government faces challenges from the growing trend toward online gambling, which surged by 965% last year, with residents wagering a total of $786 million online. This shift means that online gambling now represents about two-thirds of the Kazakh betting market, compared to just 6% in 2024, while revenues from land-based casinos declined over 16% to $53 million.
Additionally, the plans include allowing casino operators to set up establishments in Alatau, a deregulated city intended to attract foreign businesses and crypto ventures.
