Asia
Fintechs in Kazakhstan Raises Concerns Over Proposed Gambling Regulation
Fintech companies in Kazakhstan are urging greater scrutiny of a proposed law intended to regulate betting transactions in the country.
The submitted legislation, currently in its final reading, would form a monopoly entity, the Unified Accounting System (UAS), the firms said in a joint press release. The UAS would be used to determine market participants, process payments, maintain a single “electronic wallet” and make settlements with clients. A critical concern is that it could charge up to 1.5% in commissions on all market transactions, within a market where regulated transactions exceed KZT1.2tn ($2.6bn) annually.
Irina Davidenko, a spokesperson for Kazakhstan’s payments industry, commented: “The proposed legislation would be a step backwards for Kazakhstan, harming competition in the country’s vital payments sector and signaling to the outside world that necessary business reform is being driven by shadowy interests, rather than what’s right for industries and consumers.”
The proposal, partly billed as a public health move against problem gambling, resembles a previous initiative, the Betting Accounting Centre (BAC). It was shelved in 2021 after a scandal involving a deputy minister who was dismissed for accepting bribes from BAC lobbyists, according to the press release.
The lack of transparency on the UAS structure and ownership as outlined in the legislation is another aspect of the change that is seen by critics as troubling.
The reintroduction of a UAS model occurred as late as the second reading of the legislation. If passed by parliament, it will become law without the comprehensive impact analysis and scrutiny typical for such significant regulatory change.
Observers argue the new regulation duplicates existing regulatory functions already managed by Kazakh state bodies and was proposed without the cooperation of the National Bank of Kazakhstan. The central bank has previously developed its own reform proposal that avoids introducing a monopolistic entity.
Opponents further contend that the regulation could cause “significant economic damage”. National Bank of Kazakhstan representatives and the payments industry have sounded alarm bells, but the issues have not been adequately addressed, the press release added.
The concerned fintech and payment companies want the legislation to be reconsidered. They are advocating for it to be sent back to the lower house of the legislature for a full regulatory impact analysis and thorough examination to ensure that it does not adversely affect industry or the economy.
Ilya Efimenko, commercial director of the payment organisation PayDala, said: “I appeal to the Senators, who need to know the true purpose of why the UAS has made a comeback in the bill.
“This is a re-emergence of the ‘Betting Accounting Center’ (BAC), a strikingly similar entity that was withdrawn before, and behind which, as the deputy from the Amanat party Elnur Beisenbayev said, are the powerful forces of ‘Old Kazakhstan.’
“Before our eyes, a monopolist, a private operator, is being created. The emergence of monopolies such as the UAS threatens the principles of a Fair Kazakhstan. Now everything is being done to break the financial system of Kazakhstan, recognized by experts as one of the best in Central Asia.”
The post Fintechs in Kazakhstan Raises Concerns Over Proposed Gambling Regulation appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The Karnataka government has announced that it will introduce a new law to regulate online betting and gaming.
Home Minister G Parameshwara said a committee of senior officials and industry representatives has been constituted and it has been given a month’s time to submit a draft of the proposed bill.
“I chaired a meeting regarding online betting and gambling yesterday along with the IT Minister. Representatives from the industry were called. There is nothing to regulate them so far. They have agreed to the introduction of a licence system and a regulation as per law,” he said.
The state government held a high-level meeting to discuss a legal framework for regulating online gaming.
IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge said that the intent of the legislation is to curb online gambling, betting and games of chance, and protect consumers from fraud while supporting innovation and the sustainable growth of the skill-based gaming industry.
Karnataka is set to introduce a legal framework to ban gambling while permitting skill-based games following a model similar to that of Chhattisgarh.
Kharge said he held a detailed meeting with the state home minister, senior government officials, members of online gaming federations, and industry experts to discuss the proposed framework.
“The legitimate online skill-based gaming industry in India is a sunrise sector worth USD 4 billion, contributing Rs 12,000 crore in taxes and creating over 1.5 lakh jobs. Karnataka alone accounts for 25 percent of the market and contributes Rs 1350 crore annually in taxes, making it a key hub,” he said.
The minister also raised concerns over the growing underground market of offshore gambling and illegal betting.
“Alongside the legitimate sector, there is a parallel underground market that is expanding rapidly, posing risks such as predatory money collection practices, dubious shell companies, financial fraud, data breaches, and cybercrimes,” he said.
Kharge also held discussions with representatives of the E-Gaming Federation (EGF), the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) and the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS) regarding their collaborative “Code of Ethics” for the industry.
The post Karnataka Govt to Introduce New Law to Regulate Online Betting and Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
GR8 Tech, the award-winning high-performance Sportsbook and iGaming platform, in partnership with iGB, offers a deep dive into the real opportunities—and real challenges—of India’s iGaming market.
With 1.4 billion people, 954 million internet users, and 448 million interested in gaming, India offers massive potential. But it’s not a market where global strategies can simply be copied and pasted. Success here demands a profound understanding of local player behavior, payment preferences, mobile-first user experience, and cricket’s dominance—insights all explored in GR8 Tech’s “2025 India Report: How to take advantage of the opportunity.”
Produced with the involvement of both local independent market experts and GR8 Tech professionals, the report examines everything from player behavior regarding sports betting and casinos to regulatory and taxation nuances. Some notable insights include:
- Cricket Dominance: The IPL attracts more betting activity than any match involving the national team. Cricket accounts for a massive share of sports betting in India, with 20 players betting on cricket for every 2 on football and 1 on kabaddi.
- Mobile-first audience: With 77% of online traffic coming from mobile devices, operators must optimize for mobile-first experiences to effectively engage players.
- Live casino & slots lead revenue: While live casino games drive the most revenue (56.4%), slots make up 47.5% of the total volume of bets. Instant games like Aviator and JetX are gaining ground, with Aviator alone accounting for 21% of one operator’s GGR.
- Skill-based games on the rise: Indian players are moving beyond luck-based games to more interactive, skill-based experiences. Games like Teen Patti, Andar Bahar, and crash games appeal to players looking for an active, strategic role in gameplay.
- Fantasy Sports Boom: Fantasy sports, particularly fantasy cricket, are on the rise and are expected to generate ₹388 billion in revenue by 2026.
- Localized Payment Preferences: Over 90% of deposits are made via the Unified Payments Interface, making it the dominant payment method for Indian players.
“India’s iGaming market is incredibly complex and offers immense opportunities, and we cannot underestimate the value of local expertise for understanding it. This report is grounded in insights from people who live the dynamics daily and have immense experience to share. It is not about shortcuts or immediate wins, but about building a realistic, informed perspective so that when the moment comes, you are ready to act with clarity and purpose,” said Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech.
With a mobile-first audience, a deep cultural connection to cricket, and rising demand for interactive, skill-based games, success in India requires local insight. From understanding player behavior to optimizing payments and product mix, the opportunity is real—but so is the need to get it right.
To help you navigate, GR8 Tech is sharing “India Report: How to Take Advantage of the Opportunity”—an essential guide to thriving in one of the world’s most promising markets.
Download the full report now and get ahead in India’s iGaming evolution.
About GR8 Tech
GR8 Tech is a high-performance Sportsbook and iGaming platform provider.
GR8 Tech’s core strengths lie in its robust technology and focus on a personalized approach based on business needs, geographic focus, or operational verticals. From comprehensive offerings like Hyper Turnkey to specialized solutions such as the Sportsbook iFrame, Infinite Casino Aggregation, or Platform Acceler8 set, GR8 Tech provides UNbeatable flexibility and performance to drive operators’ growth and success.
Trusted by top operators worldwide, GR8 Tech has over 45 successful cases and earned multiple recognitions for its high-performance sportsbook-driven platform, including accolades from the SiGMA Awards, International Investor Awards, and GamingTECH Awards.
The post The Indian iGaming Opportunity Report: Insights for Sports Betting, Casino, Payments, and More appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
A parliamentary debate on Thailand’s Entertainment Complex Bill that had been planned to take place on Wednesday has been postponed until the next session amid rising anti-casino sentiment and concerns the bill is being rushed through.
Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra confirmed that the government would instead focus in the meantime on more pressing matters such as the aftermath of the recent earthquake and how to deal with the impact of the US tariffs.
Passage of the Entertainment Complex Bill has been coming under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks with anti-gambling advocates stating protests and a group of senators voicing their opposition to the speed with which the bill was seemingly making its way through parliament.
That’s despite the addition of a clause requiring locals to hold at least THB50 million (US$1.5 million) in their bank accounts to gain entry to Thailand’s legal casinos – a clause experts say would essentially force international operators to ditch their Thailand casino bids.
The post Thailand Postpones Parliamentary Debate on Casino Bill appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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