Kazakhstan Approves Major Casino Expansion to Boost Tourism

• Lawmakers have approved new casino zones in four regions, including the Caspian coast and Lake Alakol.
• The move expands gambling beyond the current hubs of Borovoye and Qonaev (Kapchagay) to attract foreign tourists.
• Regional authorities ("akimats") will determine specific casino sites based on infrastructure readiness.
• Each new casino is projected to generate up to $6.5 million in annual tax revenue and create 500 jobs.
• The expansion comes despite stricter domestic gambling laws, signalling a "tourism-first" strategy.

Four New Zones to Rival Existing Hubs

Kazakhstan is set to significantly broaden its regulated gambling landscape after lawmakers approved amendments allowing the creation of new casino zones across several regions. The legislation, which passed key procedural steps in late December, authorizes the development of casinos in four new strategic locations:

• Mangystau Region: Along the Caspian Sea coast, targeting beach tourism.
• Zhetysu Region: On the shores of Lake Alakol (Panfilov district).
• Almaty Region: In the Talgar district, expanding the existing Qonaev hub's periphery.
• East Kazakhstan Region: In the Markakol and Zaysan districts.

This marks the first major geographic expansion of the industry since the 2007 law that confined all legal casinos to the resort areas of Borovoye (Akmola) and Qonaev (formerly Kapchagay).

Decentralised Control for Smarter Development

While the central government has defined the broad regions, the responsibility for selecting specific land plots will rest with local executive bodies, known as akimats.

Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerbol Myrzabosynov explained that this decentralised approach ensures projects align with local capacity. Akimats will assess potential sites based on road access, utilities, and proximity to existing tourist attractions. The government has also left the door open for further adjustments, indicating that zone boundaries could be expanded in the future if early projects prove successful.

Economic Impact: $2 Billion Investment Surge

The push for new casinos is underpinned by robust tourism data. Between January and October 2025, investment in Kazakhstan’s tourism sector rose by 38% year-on-year to 923 billion tenge (approx. $2 billion).

Government estimates suggest that each new casino complex could generate between 2 billion and 3 billion tenge ($4.3m–$6.5m) in annual tax revenue and create approximately 500 permanent jobs. Minister Myrzabosynov emphasised that there will be no tax breaks for these new operators; the focus is purely on leveraging gambling as an anchor for broader hospitality development.

Expert Analysis: A "Two-Tier" Gambling Policy

Kazakhstan is effectively adopting a "two-tier" gambling policy: strict prohibition for locals, and liberalised luxury for tourists.

This expansion seems contradictory at first glance. Just months ago, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law raising the minimum gambling age to 25 and banning debtors from betting. Yet, the government is now approving more casinos. The logic, however, is clear: these new zones are designed as "export" products.

By placing casinos in Mangystau (accessible to tourists from Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia via the Caspian) and Zhetysu/East Kazakhstan (targeting the Chinese border traffic), Astana is trying to replicate the "border casino" model seen in Cambodia or Vietnam. The goal is to capture foreign currency while keeping the social costs—addiction and debt—physically distant from Kazakhstan's major population centres. The success of this strategy will depend entirely on infrastructure; a casino on a beautiful lake is useless if the road to get there is unpaved.