International: Kazakhstan doubles efforts to end gambling

Online news site Kazinform reported Wednesday that a bill to increase gambling regulation in Kazakhstan was passed in the nation’s senate during its first reading.

The bill, whose name roughly translates to “Amendments to Legislation Regulating Gambling Business in the Republic of Kazakhstan,” was introduced during a plenary session last week.

According to Vice Minister of Tourism and Sports Kairbek Uskenbayev, the bill is intended to close several loopholes in Kazakhstan’s existing legislation. It will also, he added, make the operation of gambling establishments illegal within the its borders.

As the New York Times reported, Kazakhstan began copying Russia’s anti-gambling policies in 2006 when it closed down gambling halls in all but two of its cities, Kapchagai and Shchuchinsk.

To date, Kazakh officials have released no further information on the new legislation.

phill.provance@gamblingplanet.org

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