Casinos in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is a great destination for entertainment, and gambling is not an exception.

The country can brag of some fashionable land-based casinos that are in no way inferior to the worldwide famous venues of Las Vegas or Macau. And yes, the Land of the Great Steppe has its own Bellagio.

From high-stake poker and baccarat tables to busy slot floors - players have plenty of options to choose from. Amendments to the country’s main law on gambling adopted in 2024 require brick-and-mortar venues to have at least 30 tables and no less than 60 slot machines – a guarantee that even the most demanding punters won’t be disappointed.

Actually, the casino industry in Kazakhstan has much more in common with fabulous Vegas than you might think. Following the example of the legendary Sin City, the government has established two gambling zones, both conveniently located not far from the country’s largest cities Almaty and Astana. Beautiful and picturesque, each area has its unique atmosphere, well-developed infrastructure, and world-class casino resorts, which are one of their kind.

History of Gambling in Kazakhstan

Even though Kazakh people are no strangers to entertainment and playing games, their culture and traditions have never left much space for games of luck associated with betting activities.

The only native Kazakh game that can be loosely related to gambling is Assyk, which in 2017, was recognized by UNESCO as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Assyk uses sets of sheep or cow knee bones and is pretty similar to such dice games as Knucklebones (or Jacks) popular in Australia and Astragalus, which was widespread in ancient Greece.

As for gambling in the sense we use it today, its history in Kazakhstan is relatively young, beginning in the 20th century with underground clubs. The very first legal land-based casino named Zodiak was opened only in 2002 by a Kazakh-American gaming company that also operates in Kyrgyzstan, Egypt, and Northern Cyprus. After the success of the Almaty venue, more Zodiak casinos were built in other cities, including Aktobe, Nur-Sultan, and Pavlodar.

By 2007, when the new gambling law was introduced, the country boasted 132 brick-and-mortar casinos and over 2,000 smaller gambling venues with slot machines. However, the creation of two gambling zones made significant adjustments, forcing operators to face the challenge of moving their business to Kapchagay or Burabay. The only alternative was to cease the local operations completely.

A year before the aforementioned Zodiak welcomed players to its luxurious brand-new venue in Kapchagay, in October 2008, the Flamingo became officially the first brick-and-mortar casino established under the new law. Nursultan Nazarbayev, then president of Kazakhstan, strongly believed that with two dedicated entertainment centers the government would create attractive tourist destinations, especially for visitors from neighboring China.

Profitable Land-based Gambling Industry

Although the dream of Chinese tourists flocking to Kazakhstan to play roulette and blackjack has not yet come true, the country’s gambling industry is definitely on the rise.

According to data released by the Kazakh Ministry of Finance, already in 2020, legal betting activities added to the state budget more than $94 million in taxes and fees. It is expected that by 2025, the industry will record a $500 million turnover.

Not surprisingly, the idea of Kazakh Las Vegas has attracted many big-name foreign investors who saw their opportunities to leverage the great possibilities of a new market in order to grow their business. For instance, Steve Wynn, a famous American billionaire widely known as a creator of some of Las Vegas' most remarkable casinos, including Bellagio and The Mirage, invested in the fashionable Tengri Casino Resort.

Kapchagay

Called none other than Las Vegas on a Steppe or the Sin City of Kazakhstan, Kapchagay is located only 80 km from Almaty on the bank of an artificial same-name lake.

Long before it acquired the status of a gambling center, the area was a magnet for all who fancy sandy beaches and water sports. The proximity of the mountains makes Kapchagay an ideal spot for tourists who also like hiking while anglers swear that the lake has plenty of huge catfishes.

Nowadays, the picturesque shore is home to more than forty land-based casinos that cater to gamblers of different styles, high-pullers and low-rollers alike. The beauty of the area is that all the venues are more or less close to each other, therefore, once you are there, finding your perfect fit can be pretty easy and not extremely time-consuming.

Burabay (Borovoe)

Undoubtedly, one of the most awe-inspiring places in the region, Burabay (or Borovoe in Russian, an official language in Kazakhstan) is a large national park situated 250 km from Astana, the country’s current capital city.

A very popular holiday destination among people who value natural assets such as pine woods, beautiful rocks and lakes, and plenty of fresh air, Burabay was chosen as another location for legalized brick-and-mortar casinos.

The highlight of this entertainment zone is the luxurious Cash Ville Casino, which is considered one of the biggest in Central Asia. The venue is a firm favorite of whales who value its posh atmosphere and high-stakes tables with minimum bets starting at $300 on weekdays and $500 on weekends.

Burabay, however, also has more all-round venues with tables to accommodate casual players and newbies who just want to have fun and make a couple of spins on roulette. It goes without saying, slot buffs can enjoy a wide variety of games in all casinos. Among some of the popular places are Imperial-M and Lafayette.

Gambling Laws

Kazakh gambling is regulated by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, which uses the law “On Gambling Business” effected in January 2007. Over the years, the law has been amended and updated, with the latest changes entering into force in June 2024.

The law recognizes several types of betting activities: land-based casinos, arcades with slot machines, sportsbooks, and sweepstakes. All brick-and-mortar casinos and slot machine halls are only allowed to be located within the two special gambling zones: Kapchagay (Almaty region) and Burabay (Akmola region). All interested operators should obtain a license, which is issued for a 10-year period.

In Kazakhstan, players must be 21 years old to enter the casino.