In Kazakhstan, strict restrictions on advertising of bookmaker offices and totalisators have been introduced. The implementation of the requirements of the legislation was considered at a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tamara Duisenova.

Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports Miras Tulebaev noted that to ensure compliance with the legislation, the agency together with regional and city Akimats, as well as the Ministry of Culture and Information carries out regular monitoring of outdoor advertising and domestic media. As a result of this work, more than 1.6 thousand billboards were dismantled. In 2024, over 10,000 websites advertising illegal gambling and betting were added to the Cyber Surveillance information system for further blocking.

"Citizens who have noticed illegal bookmaker advertisements on the streets or in the media can file a complaint with the ministry. If there is sufficient evidence, the agency sends requests to the relevant akimats and the Ministry of Culture and Information to collect materials necessary to initiate a case of administrative offence," Miras Tulebayev explained.

Deputy Prime Minister instructed the concerned state bodies and regional akimats to carefully monitor compliance with the requirements of the legislation.

"Advertising in unauthorised places should not be allowed. It was reported about blocking of several thousand sites. However, there are still adverts of bookmakers' offices on the Internet. In this regard, sectoral ministries should strengthen their monitoring work," Tamara Duisenova emphasised.

According to the introduced restrictions, advertising of betting offices and totalisators is prohibited on open spaces, facades of buildings, vehicles and outdoor structures, except for the location of betting offices or totalisators, inside sports facilities and on the equipment of athletes. Logos and trademarks of betting offices may not be used in advertising other businesses, etc.

It should be noted that in accordance with Article 455 of the Code of Administrative Offences, the fine for distributing advertisements of betting shops ranges from 236 thousand to 1.5 million tenge.

#Civil Society #Tamara Duisenova