Public servants banned from gambling in Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz - Kazakhstan has introduced a new law aimed at curbing gambling addiction among its citizens. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the legislation that expands restrictions on who cannot participate in gambling.

The law now prohibits individuals listed in the Unified Register of Debtors (a database containing information on those with outstanding debts) from engaging in gambling. Additionally, government officials, military personnel, special and law enforcement officers, and heads of budgetary organizations are also barred from participating in gambling and betting activities. If they violate this rule, they will be dismissed.

Restrictions have been placed on the advertising of betting offices and totalisators. Their advertising is prohibited on the street, in transport, in the media, cinema and reference books. Exceptions: advertising at the location of the office, inside sports facilities, on sports uniforms, as well as in registered sports media and during broadcasts of international sports competitions on domestic TV channels.

Regulations for lotteries have also been updated. It is prohibited to sell lottery tickets and install lottery terminals in residential houses, dormitories, churches, cultural buildings, as well as in schools and hospitals and within a radius of one hundred metres from them.

The law comes into force 60 days after its first official publication.