Kazakhstan launches unified betting accounting system
Kazakhstan is preparing to launch a unified betting accounting system, ESU, through legislative amendments in 2024. This platform will record all transactions between operators and their customers, ensuring state control. This launch was announced by Adilet Turganbaev, Chairman of the Committee for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan (MTS), in a , according to local media outlet Zakon.kz.
Verification of the legality of bets for players
The key task of the ESU is to identify customers and the legality of their bets. When starting to develop it, the regulator’s team studied successful international practices, Turghanbayev said. He noted the markets of Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and some US states, which have taken the path of transferring the regulation of iGaming to the state. Following their example, the Kazakh government is introducing online control tools to access information about bets.
According to official data, the annual turnover of the legal gambling market in Kazakhstan is 1.3 trillion tenge (€2 billion). There are approximately 2.5 million customers registered on legal bookmakers’ websites, of whom around 450,000 play regularly. At the same time, according to a 2024 study, 500,000 players place bets at illegal bookmakers that do not pay taxes and do not provide guarantees of responsible gaming. These bets are sent abroad to offshore companies, says Turghanbaev.
In addition to regulating and controlling the legal sector, the ESU’s task is to identify and block illegal websites using AI. In this way, the regulator intends to strengthen the protection of players and the Kazakh economy from the leakage of funds.
ESU structure and functions
The ESU will become a unified state information system for all necessary checks in the iGaming sector. It includes three components:
Controlling access to gambling and restricting vulnerable categories of citizens from gambling.
Combating the illegal market by blocking up to 1,000 sites daily.
Registration of bets to protect the interests of players.
Another valuable function of the ESU is the imposition of individual monthly limits on the number and amount of bets. When a player places bets above the limit, the operator will not be able to accept them.
According to Turghanbaev, MTS receives hundreds of complaints about online bookmaker services every day. Often, players are unable to withdraw their winnings or encounter account blocking when attempting to replenish their accounts. Currently, Kazakh officials are unable to influence the situation, relying solely on official responses from bookmakers.
Protecting the civil rights of players
The ESU aims to clarify the resolution of disputes at the state level by reflecting the history of all bets. “If a person has placed a bet, won, and for some reason, which is unreasonable and not specified in the rules and the law, is not paid their winnings, we will oblige bookmakers to fulfil their contractual obligations. This is how the consumer rights of citizens are protected,” explains Turghanbaev.
He clarified that players have no guarantees on illegal sites, and the MTS cannot protect their rights. With the introduction of the ESU, government agencies will receive an evidence base for assessing and controlling bookmakers’ operations. This action will strengthen the fight against the grey market and make it possible to restrict illegal gambling sites and other resources. In the long term, the regulator intends to make legal sites with guaranteed consumer protection more attractive to players.
Timely detection of risky gambling
According to current legislation, access to gambling is prohibited in Kazakhstan for persons who have debts and court decisions against them, as well as civil servants, military personnel, law enforcement and special services employees. The ESU will be able to check players, automatically restricting those who are vulnerable. To prevent restricted and self-restricted players from accessing gambling, a two-step identity verification process, including biometrics, will be introduced.
By analysing the frequency and nature of bets, the ESU will be able to identify signs of gambling addiction. These analytics will enable the regulator to assess an accurate picture and provide timely assistance to those who need it. In the event of frequent losses, the system will temporarily restrict access to the game to prevent the development of addiction. Such users will receive notifications with recommendations to seek help and contact details of the relevant institutions.
This article was first published in Russian on 16 July 2025.
