In a bold move to establish itself as a Central Asian tourism powerhouse, Kazakhstan is moving forward with plans to establish four new gambling zones reserved exclusively for international visitors.
This expansion follows the recent signing of the “On Gambling Business” law by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, which cleared the path for these specific zones to operate as part of a broader tourism-led economic strategy. Unlike the country’s existing casinos in Konaev and Borovoye, which are open to locals, these new venues are designed specifically to attract foreign capital while minimizing social risks for domestic citizens.
Economic Impact: Jobs and Revenue Generation
The Kazakh government is banking on these zones to provide a massive shot in the arm for regional economies. Baurzhan Rapikov, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports, has projected that each new casino will create approximately 500 direct jobs and generate annual tax revenues between KZT2 billion and KZT4 billion ($4.1m – $8.2m).
Perhaps more importantly, the initiative aims to double the annual number of gaming tourists from the current 100,000 to over 200,000.
Strategic Locations Along Trade and Tourism Corridors
The four gambling zones are strategically placed in regions in Kazakhstanknown for their natural beauty and logistical ease:
- Mangistau Region: On the Caspian Sea coast, aimed at beachgoers.
- Panfilov/Lake Alakol: Tapping into the southeast tourism market.
- Talgar District: Expanding the existing Almaty region’s draw.
- East Kazakhstan: Near Markakol and Zaisan to attract cross-border trips from China and Russia.
The government noted that while the central authorities will define the boundaries, regional administrations will manage the specific land plots to ensure the projects align with local infrastructure.
