Kazakh Banks Block Payments to Unregistered Betting Companies

Reports have emerged in Kazakhstan about difficulties in making payments to betting companies through banking applications. Users noted that services for depositing funds and withdrawing winnings have become unavailable in the mobile apps of several major banks.

The National Bank of Kazakhstan has clarified the situation. The regulator explained that amendments to the law "On Gambling Business," adopted on December 30, 2025, are now in effect. These amendments prohibit gambling operators from accepting payments and paying out winnings without being registered in the Unified Accounting System (UAS) for the gambling sector.

"Payment service providers—banks and payment organizations—have disabled services for accepting payments and paying out winnings for bookmakers that do not comply with the requirements of the law 'On Gambling Business,'" stated the National Bank's press service.

The National Bank and the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market, in collaboration with banks, have disconnected these services for bookmakers not listed in the UAS. The central bank emphasized that for financial institutions, priority is given to compliance with legislation and preventing their services from being used for illegal purposes.

In a related development, the Ministry of Health responded to inquiries about a national strategy to combat gambling addiction. The ministry indicated that measures for prevention, early detection, and reduction of pathological gambling are included in the Comprehensive Plan to Counter Illegal Gambling Business and Ludomania for 2024-2026.

A preventive policy is already being implemented across educational and sports institutions, as well as through local executive bodies (akimats). However, regarding cooperation with banks on implementing self-restriction mechanisms for payments, the Ministry of Health stated that this issue does not fall within its competence.

According to earlier reports, as of early 2026, only nine people in Kazakhstan were officially registered with a diagnosis of "pathological attraction to gambling."