Kazakhstan Casinos

The Kazakh Perspective: unknown gambling destinations in Central Asia

Kazakhstan stands as a promising frontier in the world of gambling, offering new and uncharted opportunities within the industry. Since 2007, the country has established two designated gambling zones within its vast territory, which ranks 9th in the world in terms of land area. These zones are strategically located in the heart of the country, namely the Burabai National Park, and on the picturesque shores of Lake Kapshagai in Konyaev.

It's worth noting that beyond these designated zones, the operation of casinos, gaming halls, and bookmakers is strictly prohibited, as is the functioning of online casinos across the nation. This stringent approach is aimed at maintaining the integrity and regulation of the gambling sector.

In this article, we shall delve deeper into the captivating gambling zone nestled along the shores of Lake Kapshagai. This particular zone promises a unique and thrilling experience for gambling enthusiasts and investors alike. Let us unlock the mysteries of this captivating locale, exploring its offerings and potential impact on the wider gambling landscape.

Overview of Konaev city

Kazakhstan's abundant diversity in landscapes, majestic nature, and rich traditions of hospitality converge with an array of recreational and leisure activities, catering to the desires of adrenaline-seeking enthusiasts. This harmonious blend presents exceptional prospects for unlocking the full tourist potential of the nation. For a more immersive glimpse into these remarkable offerings, we invite you to explore captivating videos showcasing the splendors of Kazakhstan.

Almaty mountains

Join us on this journey as we uncover the allure of Kazakhstan's gambling scene and how the shore of Lake Kapshagai plays a pivotal role in shaping its future – key attributes of the exquisite Kapshagai gambling zone:

- Strategic Geographic Advantage: Nestled within proximity to an extensive population base, the Konaev region enjoys a prime location. Over 271 million people reside within a radius of 1500 km, while an astounding 644 million people reside within a radius of 2000 km from this alluring destination.

- Proximity to Diverse Attractions: An hour and a half's drive from the gambling zone leads to the Almaty ski cluster, boasting the renowned “Medeo” high-altitude skating rink situated at an elevation of 1,691 meters above sea level. Moreover, the region hosts several ski resorts such as Shymkent Mountain Resort, Oi-Qaragai, Ak-Bulak, Pioneer, and more. These scenic wonders, along with Kapshagai Lake, The Altyn-Emel National Park, Turgeni vineyards, and local forests, collectively offer a unique and diverse amalgamation of landscapes and natural wonders.

- Visa-Friendly Nation: Kazakhstan extends a warm welcome to travelers from across the globe, as more than 80 countries, including China, have the privilege of a visa-free regime. Additionally, citizens from 106 other countries can avail themselves of the convenient e-visa service.

- Seamless Connectivity: The gambling zone's accessibility is enhanced by its close proximity to the Almaty International Airport, a mere 40-minute journey away. The airport offers regular flights to major cities like Beijing, London, Ankara, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Seoul, Frankfurt, Tbilisi, Baku, Doha, Sharjah, Delhi, Moscow, and numerous others.

- Ideal Regional Placement: Serving as the closest gambling zone to northwest and western China, as well as the Persian Gulf countries, the Kapshagai Gambling Zone stands as the sole one of its kind in Central Asia.

- Vast Expanse: Encompassing an impressive area of over 1,400 hectares, the gambling zone offers available land plots, which can be allocated free of charge for investment projects exceeding 1.5 million USD. Benefiting from such arrangements, these projects also enjoy exemptions from land, property tax, corporate income tax, and customs duties on the import of essential materials and equipment.

- Surging Tourism: Almaty witnessed an impressive surge in tourist numbers, surpassing pre-pandemic levels in 2019 by an astounding 35% with 1,809 thousand visitors in 2022. Furthermore, the Almaty region, centered around Konaev, is projected to restore its pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2023.

One of the casinos in Konaev city

Currently, Kazakhstan Government actively implements diverse measures to combat illegal gambling activities, both online and offline. Additionally, the authorities aim to regulate bookmakers to prevent gambling addiction among the population while fostering a civilized and responsible business environment within the industry.

Present Regulatory Landscape of Gambling in Kazakhstan:

- Current Casino and Slot-Hall Distribution: As of July 1, 2023, there are a total of 6 casinos and 10 slot-halls in operation. The majority of these establishments are situated within the Kapshagai Lake gambling zone, thus fostering healthy competition within the sector.

- Incentives for Tourism Infrastructure: The state actively encourages the establishment of new tourist facilities, hotels, and entertainment complexes. Notably, these entities receive a compensation of 10% of construction costs in monetary form, rather than as a tax offset.

- Streamlined Online Licensing: The issuance of licenses is a swift process, taking just 10 working days and minimizing human intervention. This efficient online licensing system further reinforces Kazakhstan's notable 8th position worldwide in the UN e-Government ranking, particularly in the digitalization of services category.

- License Duration and Requirements: Gambling licenses remain valid for a 10 years. To acquire a license, an institution must offer a minimum of 30 gaming tables for card games or roulette, alongside at least 60 slot machines. The maximum number of gaming equipment allowed is unrestricted.

- License Fees and Taxes: The state fee for obtaining a gambling license stands at approximately $30,000 USD. Moreover, a local bank account must have approximately $465,000 USD to cover potential winnings. Subsequently, a fixed gambling tax of approximately $12,800 USD per gambling table and approximately $465 USD per slot machine is levied on a monthly basis, with taxes being paid quarterly.

- Exponential Growth: Publicly available data on tax deductions from licensed gambling companies reveals an impressive average growth rate of 28.8% annually. Over the period from 2015 to 2022, these deductions have increased more than fivefold, underscoring the rapid and robust development of the gambling industry in Kazakhstan.

Please note that the license fee, the minimum required balance in the bank account, and the gambling tax are contingent on the minimum calculation index. This special coefficient is utilized for determining benefits, social entitlements, taxes, fines, and other financial obligations, as prescribed by law for each fiscal year. As of 2023, the minimum calculation index stands at 3450 tenge.

Altyn Emel National Park

The Almaty region, along with Lake Kapshagai, stands as a pivotal growth hub for tourism in Kazakhstan, with gambling playing a significant role in this flourishing ecosystem. Anticipated growth in tourist influx from China and the broader Asian region further amplifies the significance of the gambling zone.

As the gambling zone is relatively young and still evolving, the selection of hotels in Kapshagai remains somewhat limited. As a result, a majority of guests and players prefer to stay in Almaty, where a wide range of reputable international establishments such as Swissotel, Ritz-Carlton, Royal Tulip, InterContinental, Rixos, Novotel, Holiday Inn, DoubleTree by Hilton, Ramada, Ibis, among others, are available. Additionally, numerous locally branded hotels, such as Qazaq Auyl, Pana, Mercure, Tenir Eco Hotel, and more, cater to diverse preferences.

Local touristic companies stand prepared to offer essential services, including transfer arrangements and comprehensive support. Should the need arise, services like expert guides, interpreters, individual chauffeured cars, and more can be readily provided.

Furthermore, the government is proactively working to stimulate tourism development by creating opportunities for integrated engineering and tourism infrastructure projects through public-private partnerships. This approach ensures timely responses to business needs, fostering the growth and enhancement of the entire tourism sector.

The second gambling zone, currently operating in Kazakhstan, is located on the shore of Lake Shchuchye near the capital of the country – Astana.

Also in recent years, the ideas of creating new gambling zones at the Akbulak ski resort in the Almaty mountain cluster, on the territory of the Khorgos border trade and cross-border cooperation center, on the Caspian coast on the basis of the Kenderli resorts have been discussed. But the most likely now is the creation of a gambling zone near Aktau, also located on the shore of the Caspian Sea.

If you find this content intriguing, we invite you to follow our upcoming articles in which we will talk about this and much more.

If you have any questions or you are very interested in studying investment prospects in Kazakhstan, do not hesitate to contact representatives of Kazakh Tourism. They are aimed at providing assistance and support to resolve your issues and familiarize you with the available investment opportunities.

The company is also ready to provide support in conducting an information tour for media representatives and bloggers interested in covering Kazakhstan gambling establishments and tourism potential in general, through the prism of their impressions.