Poker Writer
The government of Kazakhstan has authorized casinos in various new cities and regions to help promote tourism in the country in the center of Asia.
Casinos are already allowed in Kazakhstan, but they are limited to only two areas: the Konaev area in Almaty and the luxury resort town of Lake Schuchye. But now President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is in favor of legislation to designate certain regions for new casinos. Those new regions for potential casinos include:
- Magiatsu Region along the Caspian Sea
- Lake Alakol Region
- Silk Road’s Talgar
- Lake Markakol
- Zaisan
Any new casino in the country would be limited to foreigners and non-residents. Other countries in Asia such as South Korea have used that same setup to limit the extent of social harms.
Tourism in Kazakhstan Rising
Kazakhstan is the ninth-largest country in the world by area but has a relatively small population of 21 million, making it one of the least densely populated countries, with only 20 people per square mile.
The vast quantities of open land, as well as large reserves of oil and gas, give the nation significant potential for expansion. The population is relatively well off, with a median household income ranking among the top 50 in the world.
The landlocked location has largely kept the country secluded from foreign tourists since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. But the untapped terrain and allure of being an under-the-radar destination have made Kazakhstan more appealing in recent years.
Kazakhstan has also made the visa process easier for tourists to promote more visitors.
The tourism sector has experienced significant growth since 2024, with substantial investment in new hotels and mountain resorts across the nation’s many beautiful natural landscapes.
The government hopes to capitalize on this tourism surge with the new potential casinos.
Poker in Kazakhstan
Kazakh citizens are allowed to gamble only in the two current designated gambling regions in the country. Poker has yet to really catch on in the country because of that. Kazakhstan has two poker rooms, one each at the Bombay Casino in Konaev and the Cashville Casino in Shchuchinsk.
The Eurasian Poker Tour (EAPT) has hosted tournaments at the Cashville Casino in the past, but not since 2018.
Compared to other former Soviet Republic nations such as Belarus, Ukraine, or Latvia, there are not many well-known or successful poker players from Kazakhstan. There are currently no players from Kazakhstan who have amassed more than $1 million in career earnings, according to the Hendon Mob.
Online poker is not legal in Kazakhstan. President Tokayev reinforced the ban on internet gambling as a criminal offense in 2024.
