Kazakhstan weighs criminal charges against influencers promoting online casinos
Authorities say fines are insufficient to deter repeat offenders in gambling promotions.
Key points:
– 34 influencers identified for promoting online gambling in early 2025
– Fines start at 200,000 KZT (US$420), but many continue to breach the law
– Financial Monitoring Agency considering criminal liability for repeated violations
Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) is mulling over the introduction of criminal penalties for influencers found to be promoting online gambling. As reported by The Times of Central Asia, the move comes after repeated breaches of existing advertising regulations, which prohibit promotion of online casinos and betting services.
So far, 34 influencers have been identified this year for advertising gambling services through social media platforms. Of these, 11 have already received administrative fines. However, the agency notes that promotional income from such content often outweighs the penalties, giving little incentive for compliance.
In response, officials are exploring whether these activities could be classified as aiding illegal gambling. Such an interpretation could bring them under laws similar to those targeting promoters of financial pyramid schemes, which already carry criminal sanctions under Kazakhstani law.
A 2024 law in Kazakhstan banned public and media advertisements for online casinos and bookmakers. Despite this, online gambling networks remain active, particularly those based overseas.
Good to know: The FMA has reported the dismantling of over 200 illegal operations since 2022, with 224 people held criminally liable
So far in 2025, more than 17,000 online links, mostly mirror sites for international gambling platforms, have been blocked. Nevertheless, some domestic payment providers continue to facilitate transactions related to these services. The FMA has pledged to tighten investigations into these intermediaries.
Authorities say that enforcement must evolve with the online gambling landscape. If criminal penalties are introduced, they would mark a shift towards more severe measures targeting not only operators but also those who promote them.
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