Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) is considering implementing criminal penalties for social media influencers who promote online gambling. This move follows consistent violations of the country’s advertising regulations, which prohibit the promotion of online casinos and betting services.
FMA Explores Criminal Liability for Influencers
The FMA disclosed that 34 influencers have been identified this year alone for advertising gambling services on social media platforms. While 11 of these influencers have been fined administratively, the agency has expressed concerns that the current penalties are insufficient to curb the practice. The primary issue is that the revenue generated from these promotional activities often exceeds the amount of the fines, creating little deterrent for repeat offenders.
To address this, the FMA is exploring whether such promotional activities could be categorized as aiding and abetting illegal gambling. If this interpretation is adopted, it could lead to the application of criminal sanctions similar to those already in place for promoters of financial pyramid schemes, which are criminalized under Kazakhstani law.
In 2024, Kazakhstan introduced a law that strictly bans public advertising of online casinos, bookmakers, and betting pools. This includes a ban on such promotions in media, outdoor advertising, and even in films or videos. Despite these legal provisions, online gambling activities, particularly those operated by international networks, continue to thrive, circumventing local regulations.
According to Interfax-Kazakhstan, the FMA has reported impressive results in combating illegal gambling operations, dismantling over 200 such operations since 2022. Furthermore, 224 individuals have been held criminally liable for their involvement in these illegal activities. However, the FMA emphasizes that foreign online gambling platforms remain the most significant threat, as many of these services operate beyond the reach of local authorities.
The agency has responded by blocking over 17,000 online links in 2025, most of which are mirror sites for international gambling platforms. Despite these efforts, certain domestic payment providers continue to facilitate transactions linked to these illicit services, prompting the FMA to intensify its investigations into these intermediaries.
The Role of Influencers in Promoting Online Gambling
Influencer marketing has become a key avenue for promoting online gambling in Kazakhstan, with influencers advertising illegal gambling services to their large followings on social media. According to the FMA, the volume of such promotions has only increased, with 34 influencers identified this year for engaging in this activity. Although 11 influencers have already been fined for their involvement, the fines are proving ineffective, as the revenues generated from these promotions far outweigh the penalties imposed.
The FMA is now exploring the possibility of categorizing these influencers as accomplices in the illegal gambling business. Such a designation would bring them under laws akin to those that penalize financial pyramid schemes, where criminal penalties are already in place. The FMA’s move reflects a shift toward a more stringent regulatory approach, signaling that authorities are willing to target not just the operators but also those who facilitate the promotion of illegal activities.
Currently, fines for individuals caught advertising gambling services on social media in Kazakhstan start at 200,000 KZT (around $420). However, as the FMA’s efforts continue to evolve, the introduction of criminal penalties could significantly change the landscape of influencer marketing in the country.
