The Kazakh authorities are gearing up to prohibit advertising by legal bookmakers in response to concerns about the growing issue of gambling addiction in the country. According to Mazhilis (parliament) deputy Elnur Beisenbaev, the turnover of bookmakers in Kazakhstan reached a staggering 1 trillion tenge in 2023, prompting alarm about the impact on society.
Beisenbaev described the situation as an "epidemic of gambling addiction" that poses a threat to the country's security. He highlighted statistics indicating that around 400 thousand individuals have become regular customers of bookmakers and casinos, with approximately 40% of divorces directly attributed to gambling addiction. Furthermore, Beisenbaev noted that every fifth suicide in Kazakhstan is linked to gambling, and over a million young people in the country have engaged in betting activities, including schoolchildren.
To address these concerns, the government is proposing legislation to ban gambling advertising across various platforms. This includes outdoor advertisements on building facades, as well as online platforms, television, and radio. The move aims to curb the influence of betting advertisements on the population, particularly vulnerable individuals, and to mitigate the social and economic consequences associated with gambling addiction.
