Kazakhstan Prepares to Add Tourist-Only Casinos in Key Areas

Kazakhstan’s government has approved the establishment of new tourist-only casinos areas across the country. The new gambling zones will be created in four regions in an attempt to bolster tourism rates.

The Head of State Signed Key Amendments to the Gaming Law

According to the Qazinform News Agency, a Kazakh news outlet, the government has approved amendments to the law on tourism and children’s sports in order to create four new gambling zones in the country.

The amendments were signed by the head of state and affect the country’s Gambling laws and allow the creation of such zones in four areas. According to the report, these include the following:

• Mangistau region, on the Caspian Sea coast
• Panfilov district and the shores of Lake Alakol, Zhetysu region
• Talgar district, Almaty region
• The Markakol area and Zaisan district, East Kazakhstan region

The New Gaming Areas Will Foster Tourism

As of the time of this writing, Kazakhstan allows casino operation only in the city of Konaev in the Almaty region and the Shchuchinsk-Borovoye resort area in the Akmola region. These casinos are open to both locals and foreigners.

Unlike those casinos, the ones in the new gaming areas will be reserved for foreigners and non-residents. Additionally, companies will be prohibited from placing casinos, gaming halls, sportsbooks, and lottery hubs within certain protected natural areas, historic sites, and land allocated for national security needs.

The new gaming areas’ purpose will be sparking more tourism. For context, Qazinform News Agency previously reported that Kazakhstan’s tourism sector has attracted $2.6 billion in investments.

Kazakh Couple Was Arrested in Australia

Speaking of Kazakhstan, the New South Wales police previously detained a Kazakhstani couple accused of using a concealed camera and earpieces to cheat their way to nearly $784,000 at the Crown Sydney casino in Australia.

The couple was charged with dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception and refused bail.