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Kazakhstan authorities have moved to tighten controls on illegal online gambling payments after uncovering schemes that use mobile phone balances to fund unlicensed casino activity.

The Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) issued instructions to telecom providers to strengthen monitoring and introduce systems to detect and block suspicious transactions.

According to the FMA, mobile operators including Tele2, Altel, Beeline, Kcell and Activ were called to a working meeting where regulators demonstrated how illicit payment flows to online casinos are being processed.

To verify the issue, the FMA carried out test purchases across 10 illegal online casino websites using services from all major mobile operators. The tests confirmed that payments via mobile balances were possible.

The agency stated that the goal is to cut off financial access to illegal operators and reduce public exposure to unregulated platforms. Further enforcement actions are expected as monitoring continues.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan is preparing to significantly tighten rules on the promotion of illegal gambling. A group of senators is advancing an initiative to introduce criminal penalties for influencers who advertise online casinos and organise “giveaways.”

In related developments, a Kazakhstani influencer has recently been arrested in Vietnam on suspicion of running an illegal gambling operation.

Furthermore, the country is also restricting citizens’ access to legal gambling options, indicating a broader anti-gambling stance towards locals while still pursuing gambling tourism.

Lawmakers introduced rules restricting access to casinos, slot machine halls and betting venues in several regions to foreign nationals only. The changes will take effect on 17 May.

In March, President Tokayev signed a law establishing four new gambling zones for foreigners in the country.

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In a clarion call for the Gambling Commission and Licensing Authorities, including local police forces, to be more vigilant in their approach to illegal gambling, 97% of respondents to the latest Bacta Pulse survey confirmed they would back stronger enforcement of the law.

As the statutory regulator the Gambling Commission leads on intelligence-led investigations and possess powers to initiate criminal investigations into illegal land-based activity. To combat what is recognised as constituting a growing problem, the Gambling Commission was allocated an additional £26 million in funding over three years starting in 2026 in order to strengthen enforcement against illegal operators.

Updating the current state of play Bacta President Joseph Cullis said: “In England and Wales, local authorities are responsible for licensing premises and, alongside police, are expected to take enforcement actions including raids and shutdowns against illegal gambling operating within their specific area, seizing equipment and prosecuting operators. It’s a multi-agency approach which also includes HMRC in order to tackle tax evasion.”

He added: “While the Gambling Commission has historically focused on the online sector, concerns regarding land-based illegal activity, including unlicensed gaming machines in pubs, members clubs and cafes remain. These illegal operators ‘steal’ discretionary spend from Bacta members and provide none of the player protection safeguards that are so important in the regulated market. Illegal gambling remains a key issue of concern for Bacta members and it is a topic that is permanently on our agenda in discussions with colleagues at UKGC.”

The rigid and outdated regulations governing the siting and mix of machines is having a profound impact on investment. According to the Pulse Survey 87% of respondents said that greater machine flexibility would encourage them to invest in their venues. With the remaining 13% saying the question was not applicable the figure jumps to 100% – the first Pulse question to attract a unanimous response.

In what has become something of a recurring theme the Bacta Pulse survey has again revealed what members believe to be a serious lack of knowledge concerning the industry.

Joining MPs and Councillors, both of which were identified in previous surveys, are Local Authority Licensing Officers with 93% of respondents saying this important group “do not know the industry well.”

Explaining how the findings will impact and inform Bacta’s engagement with policy makers, Director of Communications Allaster Gair said: “The results are invaluable in shaping the conversations that we have on a daily basis with external stakeholders and I am grateful for every Bacta member who has participated. Illegal gambling is of huge importance both to our members, to players and to HMRC. The 80/20 rule is outdated and is having adverse consequences for the industry supply chain. Getting closer to Licensing Officers is an area that we are addressing and will continue to address using the opportunity provided by events such as EAG Expo, the SR Exchange and via the offices of Bacta’s MSOs.”

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