(AsiaGameHub) – Kazakhstan is expanding its gambling zones significantly, as the government has revealed plans for multiple new zones in urban areas and well-known resort spots.
Current legislation allows gambling only in two locations: Konaev city in the Almaty region and the Shchuchinsk-Borovoye resort area in the north-central Akmola region.
However, on May 17, 2026, the government unveiled new gambling zones along the Caspian Sea coast, as well as in Zaysan and Markakol.
Additionally, starting July 1, gambling operators will be allowed to open casinos in Alatau city, according to Kazakh media outlet Zakon.
The government initially announced its expansion plans in January. Back then, the tourism ministry estimated that each new casino could generate approximately $6 million in tax revenue.
Kazakhstan’s Gambling Zones: Ambitions for a Small City
In 2007, Kazakhstan prohibited all land-based casinos, slot machine parlors, bookmakers, and betting establishments, though it made the two previously mentioned exceptions.
While adding more coastal resorts aligns with the government’s 2007 strategy, including an urban center in the list of gambling zones represents a significant shift.
Zakon, citing government sources, stated that the objective of the Alatau “project” is “to create an economic, technological, scientific, educational, commercial, entertainment, and investment center of international importance.”
The Kazakh government has ambitious expectations for Alatau, aiming to turn it into a partially deregulated zone that draws foreign businesses and cryptocurrency companies.
The town, previously called Zhetygen, has roughly 55,000 inhabitants. The government intends to convert it into a bustling metropolis with a population of 2 million by 2050.
Businesses establishing operations in Alatau will receive special tax incentives. The government will also permit them to use various foreign currencies as legal tender.
Additionally, the government will allow the use of English in official paperwork. The tax incentives will cover exemptions from corporate tax, property tax, and specific types of VAT.
Furthermore, “highly qualified foreign specialists” will be exempt from income tax. “Secured digital assets” will also be tax-free.
Plans to Build a Global Business Hub
“What was once a regular village,” noted Zakon journalist Andrey Gubenko in another article for the same outlet, “needs to evolve into a smart city and a global business hub in the near future.”
According to the government’s revised regulations concerning Alatau, city officials have “the authority to recognize licenses, permits, accreditations, and other documents that confirm the right to conduct activities—issued by countries with high-quality infrastructure and/or international organizations as specified by the administration.”
As a result, given the current situation, Gubenko stated that this could enable the city to draw a diverse array of foreign gaming operators.
The plans, the journalist added, would permit foreign investors to open either a land-based or online casino in Alatau “using a license issued in another country.”
Towards the end of last year, Australian law enforcement arrested a Kazakh couple accused of using a hidden camera and earpieces to cheat at casino table games. The duo used these devices to win approximately $800,000 at the Crown Sydney Casino.
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