Kazakhstan Plans to Expand Its Land-Based Casino Vertical

Overall Situation in the Sector

As of now, Kazakhstan hosts 2 amusement hubs: one in Konayev, located on the shores of the Kapchagay Reservoir in the Almaty region, and another in Burabay, within the Akmola area.

The government’s latest initiative foresees the establishment of new venues in 4 destinations:

• Almaty;
• Zhetysu;
• Mangistau;
• East Kazakhstan.

Baurzhan Rapikov, the country's Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports, has submitted the construction project for review. As outlined in the proposal, the new gaming zones will cater solely to foreign visitors, a strategy expected to boost inbound tourism and accelerate the development of resort infrastructure in these regions.

The Ministry-commissioned research also reflects public sentiment towards the initiative:

• 46% of Mangistau's citizens backed the launch of a new gambling zone;
• 67% of Zhetysu's locals expressed no objection to the opening of casinos serving exclusively foreigners;
• 54.5% of Almaty's residents responded positively to the government’s expansion plan.

Key Economic Expectations

According to the Ministry’s analytics and forecasts:

1. The casino planned for Mangistau is expected to welcome around 148,000 tourists by 2029, creating more than 700 permanent work positions and generating roughly KZT 1.2 billion in budget revenue.
2. The venue in Zhetysu is projected to attract up to 36,000 attendees annually by 2029, providing about 700 jobs and contributing approximately KZT 2.4 billion in taxes each year.
3. In the Almaty region, the new gaming location is forecasted to draw over 22,800 guests by 2030. Collectively, the 2 amusement hubs are anticipated to deliver KZT 6.5 billion in revenues and create more than 2,000 permanent work positions by 2028.

Kazakhstan’s tourism sector recently generated KZT 1.254 trillion (around $2.7 billion), and the new construction project is designed to build on this momentum by expanding infrastructure to accommodate rising inbound flows.

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