Gambling Laws in Kazakhstan

Gambling in Kazakhstan is legal in all its variety. Within the Kazakh gambling laws, the  Law On Lotteries and Lotteries Activities (Лотереялар және лотерея қызметі туралы) from 2016 and the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 219 from 12 January 2007 (Ойынбизнесітуралы Қазақстан Республикасының 2007 жылғы 12 қаңтардағы N 219 Заңы.) and its amendments from 2018 are considered to be the main regulatory acts of all gambling activities in the country. Thus, according to these acts, all forms of land-based are legal in Kazakhstan, though Article 6 of the latter states that online gambling is prohibited, with the exception of the lottery and bingo.  There are several bodies responsible for the regulation of the gambling activities in the country including the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the administrative units within its competence regarding gambling. According to the Kazakh gambling laws, minors under 21 years of age are prohibited from participating in gambling activities.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Kazakhstan? No, most forms of online gambling are illegal in Kazakhstan, according to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 219 from 12 January 2007. The only exception is the lottery and bingo, which are regulated separately.

Online Casinos in Kazakhstan 

There are a few land-based casinos in Kazakhstan, though they are only located in Kapshagay and Shchuchyn, the two designated areas according to the law. However, online casino sites in Kazakhstan are forbidden, though the law is permissive when it comes to offshore platforms. In this way, gamblers are able to play a variety of casino games and get some of the best opportunities available on the market. 

Online Poker in Kazakhstan

As there are no special Kazakh poker laws, the legal status of poker and online poker in Kazakhstan is unclear. But as it is assumed that it falls under the definition of casino games, it is only legal to offer at a land-based poker. Nonetheless, players can access offshore online poker sites in Kazakhstan without fearing prosecution. 

Online Lottery in Kazakhstan

The Kazakh National Lottery (Қазақстан Республикасының ұлттық лотереясы) was established in 1998 and is responsible for organizing all lotto games in the country. However, as of September 2019, they haven’t introduced yet online lotto sites in Kazakhstan. Therefore, players usually access international platforms that allow them to win higher jackpot prizes. 

Online Bingo in Kazakhstan

There are no specific Kazakh bingo laws, which is why the status of this game within the legal acts regulating gambling in the country is not very clear either. Nonetheless, it is possible that bingo is regulated by the Law On Lotteries and Lotteries Activities, as the Kazakh National Lottery is responsible for providing the game. Similarly, then, there are also no specialized online bingo sites in Kazakhstan. As a result, players usually access offshore platforms. 

Online Sports Betting in Kazakhstan

Sports betting is very popular and, unlike other forms of gambling, land-based betting shops are not restricted to Kapshagay and Shchuchyn. In addition, and although online gambling is, in theory, illegal, there are also online sportsbook sites in Kazakhstan operating with a license in the country. But bettors can also freely access offshore platforms. 

Online DFS in Kazakhstan

Online DFS sites in Kazakhstan are not legally regulated. There is an ongoing debate on the status of this type of game, but considering the prohibition on online gambling in the country, it is very probable that Daily Fantasy Sports will also be restricted in Kazakhstan.