Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency has instructed major mobile operators to strengthen monitoring and block suspicious transactions. A review of 10 illegal casino sites showed that mobile balances could be used to fund unlicensed online gambling.

Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency has required mobile network operators to increase transaction oversight after identifying schemes in which mobile balances were used to finance unlicensed online casinos. The regulator also ordered providers to implement systems capable of detecting and blocking suspicious payments.

The measures followed testing of 10 illegal online casino websites. The tests confirmed that users could make deposits using mobile balances from all major telecom operators in the country.

Regulators identified a scheme in which mobile communication funds — both prepaid and postpaid — were used to top up gambling accounts. In practice, this allowed money from mobile balances to be transferred directly to illegal gambling platforms.

After uncovering the scheme, the Financial Monitoring Agency, which is responsible for combating financial crime and illicit transactions in Kazakhstan, held a working meeting with telecommunications operators. During the discussion, officials demonstrated how payment flows to online casinos were being processed.
 

Measures for telecom operators

Five major telecom operators — Tele2, Altel, Beeline, Kcell, and Activ — took part in the meeting. Authorities instructed them to strengthen transaction monitoring and implement mechanisms to detect and block suspicious operations linked to unlicensed gambling.

To verify the issue, the regulator conducted test transactions on 10 illegal online casino websites using services from all major mobile operators. The checks confirmed that payments via mobile balances were indeed possible.
 

Enforcement and restriction measures

The agency said it aims to cut off financial access for illegal operators and reduce the influence of unregulated platforms on the public. Further enforcement actions are expected as monitoring continues.

At the same time, Kazakhstan is developing stricter rules on the promotion of illegal gambling. A group of senators is pushing an initiative to introduce criminal liability for influencers who advertise online casinos or run giveaways.

Meanwhile, authorities are tightening access to legal gambling venues in the country. From 17 May, new rules will allow entry to casinos, slot halls, and betting shops in certain regions only for foreign nationals.

These changes follow a law signed in March by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, which provides for the creation of four new gambling zones for foreigners. Separately, Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerbol Myrzabosynov dismissed reports of a reduced tax burden for casinos.

 

 

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