iGN, in collaboration with experts from OnlyFacts, continues its series analyzing the regulation, payment infrastructure, marketing opportunities, local features, and key risks of major GEOs. The third issue focuses on Kazakhstan, highlighting key data:
Market Size and Economy:
- $458 million — GGR in 2024 (estimate by 4H)
- $306.2 billion — Country's GDP
- 20 million — Population
According to OnlyFacts, Kazakhstan remains one of the most notable markets in Central Asia, where demand is high, but the operational model heavily depends on local regulation, payment infrastructure, and policies regarding the offshore segment.
Legal Status:
- The right to accept online bets for bookmakers and totalizators is tied to having a license for a land-based gambling establishment.
- Online casinos are prohibited.
- The land-based segment includes casinos, gaming machine halls, and betting shops.
- There is a state monopoly on conducting lotteries.
- The key regulator is the Committee for Regulation of Gambling Business and Lotteries.
Payment Infrastructure and Promotion:
- Main payment methods include Visa and Mastercard bank cards and the local payment service Kaspi.
- Local methods also include payments from mobile accounts (Beeline, Kcell, Activ, Altel, Tele2).
- All payments from licensed operators go through the Unified System for Accounting Bets and Gambling (ESU).
- Banks and payment providers are required to block transactions in favor of offshore operators.
- Advertising restrictions affect not only operators but also bloggers, information portals, and other advertising distributors.
Key Brands (Licensees):
- 1xBet
- OlimpBet
- FONBET
- WINLINE
- Pin-Up
OnlyFacts Recommendations:
- Consider Kazakhstan as a promising but sensitive market to regulatory changes.
- When building a strategy, take into account the ban on online casinos and the close link between online licenses and land-based ones.
- Examine the conditions for connecting to payment infrastructure and advertising restrictions before entering the market, as these two factors determine the viability of the model.
- Monitor regulatory practices, as pressure on the offshore segment is applied not only through resource blocking.
OnlyFacts provides detailed analytics on 25 GEOs, with new countries added regularly. Free trial access to the database is available, and a 10% discount on subscription applies with the promo code ign10.