Kazakhstan Is Now Planning Three New ‘Tourist Only’ Casinos

by Roy Brindley, 13 January 2026

Positive feedback, new jobs, and potential profits lead Kazakhstan to consider tourism ‘gambling zones’.

The scales appear to be tipping in favour of ‘new tourist’ only gambling zones in Kazakhstan. © Getty Images

Key Facts:

• ‘Tourist only’ gambling zones are on the horizon in Kazakhstan.
• Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports predicts no direct impact on the domestic social environment.
• Positive reaction to plans from residents of two of the three proposed casino sites.

Kazakhstan is considering the creation of new ‘gambling zones’ that would be exclusively open to foreign tourists. A socio-economic assessment, conducted by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, has found that a significant number of residents in the proposed areas do not oppose the proposals.

The Ministry’s plans were first announced in February 2025 when three regions that are already established as tourist centres – Mangystau, Zhetisu and Almaty – were reportedly being considered as suitable locations for ‘tourist only’ casinos.

“Global experience shows that gambling zones operating exclusively for foreigners in certain countries become an additional factor in attracting tourists and developing resort infrastructure, without having a direct impact on the domestic social environment,” says Kazakhstan’s Tourism and Sports department.

Casinos Get Impressive Support and Projections

In the Mangystau region of the former Soviet republic, 46% of survey respondents supported the idea of casinos for foreign tourists. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, by 2029, the area could attract around 148,000 foreign visitors, creating approximately 7,000 permanent jobs, generating about $2.35 million in tax revenue.

54.5% of survey participants in the Almaty region of the oil-rich country backed the creation of restricted-access gambling zones. Analysis suggests the area could receive nearly 22,810 foreign tourists annually by 2030. The result would be approximately $12.7 million in tax revenue and around 2,000 new permanent jobs as early as 2028.

Public support is highest in the Zhetysu region, where 67% of respondents did not object to the construction of foreign-only casinos. Projections indicate that up to 36,000 foreign tourists will visit Zhetysu annually by 2029, with a casino business potentially creating around 700 new jobs and approximately $4.7 million in tax revenue.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan noted that the creation and operation of the gambling zones will be carried out in strict compliance of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan ‘On Gambling Business.’

“The specific boundaries of the zones are determined by local executive authorities, and the operating regime stipulates that only foreign citizens are allowed to enter,” a statement read. In addition to being non-Kazakh, customers are likely to have an 18 or 21 legal age limit.

Neighbours With Free Trade and Big Numbers

Landlocked Kazakhstan shares 7,650 kilometres of border with Russia, 2,300 kilometres of border with Uzbekistan and 1,765 kilometres of border with China. In 2014, Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus signed an agreement creating the Eurasian Economic Union – a single market for free movement of goods, services, capital, and labour.

In Russia, casinos and slot machines are only legal in four designated gambling zones: Siberian Coin in Altai Republic, Yantarnaya in Kaliningrad Oblast, Krasnaya Polyana (near Sochi), and the Primorye Gambling Zone in Primorsky Krai. In 2024, they reported a combined total of 2.1 million visitors.