Lawmakers in Kazakhstan have raised the issue of banning gambling advertisements

Dana Nurzhigit, a member of the Kazakh Senate, has proposed a complete ban on advertising for both online and land-based casinos, as well as betting shops. This initiative is outlined in a request directed to the country's Prime Minister, prepared by a group of concerned lawmakers.
The document highlights that senators have been receiving numerous appeals from citizens urging them to protect vulnerable populations. Problem gamblers are increasingly losing their assets, taking on unmanageable loans, and facing job losses.
Nurzhigit emphasized, "The number of loans in the country is constantly increasing. Since the beginning of 2022, the volume of credit issued to the public has risen by more than 28.3%. Additionally, the network of accessible microloans is expanding. Many people are now obtaining these loans through apps, all while remaining engrossed in gambling. If a conscript takes out a loan, the interest rate increases during their service, plunging them into debt."
The senator noted that interest in gambling is on the rise, a trend that is concerning for lawmakers. "This is a real disaster. In the past, we fought to ensure that gaming halls were not located near schools. Today, they are no longer there; they have moved into the pockets of teenagers, where they can access casinos through downloaded apps on their phones. We have already requested a ban on gambling operators accepting credit card payments, and this issue is still under discussion."
According to the official, representatives of the gambling industry contributed 16.5 billion tenge to the national budget in 2019. However, the Kazakh government had to allocate significantly more funds for social programs. Statistics indicate that there are approximately 350,000 gamblers in the country, but it is difficult to estimate how many of them are facing gambling-related problems.
In light of these circumstances, the group of lawmakers is urging the government to initiate legislative changes to prohibit advertising for online platforms that offer casino and betting services.
It is worth noting that live games have led to a 69% increase in revenue for Evolution.