Kazakhstan is brewing stricter regulations on bloggers and internet celebrities, especially for promoting unlicensed gambling services on social platforms and messaging apps. Senator Gennady Shipovskikh recently proposed a suggestion to establish a blogger licensing framework, and even possibly introduce a national blogger registration system to strengthen legal responsibilities and advertising compliance.
This proposal comes in the backdrop of the country implementing a ban on online gambling advertising last year, covering outdoor media, film and television works, and digital content. However, despite clear laws, the enforcement has been less than ideal. The Financial Monitoring Authority (FMA) disclosed that 34 bloggers have been found promoting illegal casinos and gambling companies, with 11 of them already fined administratively. But regulatory bodies admit that fines have limited deterrent effect, and only criminal sanctions can truly curb such behaviors.
Shipovskikh pointed out that the licensing system would allow authorities to directly suspend a blogger's activities upon discovering violations. He also called for stricter regulation of payment processors and advertising agencies, and the establishment of verification mechanisms to assess whether social platform raffles and giveaways involve illegal gambling.
Data shows that in the past two and a half years, authorities have shut down 205 unauthorized casinos and initiated criminal proceedings against 224 individuals. However, regulatory bodies acknowledge that the profits from illegal advertising often far exceed the risks of fines. FMA Deputy Chairman Zhenis Yeremesov reiterated after the Senate plenary session that authorities have the right to initiate criminal proceedings against bloggers involved in illegal gambling operations or profit sharing under current laws.
Kazakhstan's approach is not unique. As early as 2014, Russia required bloggers with more than 3000 readers to register with the national media regulatory authority and comply with the same legal norms as mainstream media. In Kazakhstan, the gambling industry has long expressed dissatisfaction with the government's strong regulation, especially last year when the government attempted to strengthen control over the gambling and fintech industries through payment regulation reforms and a Unified Accounting System (UAS), triggering strong backlash from the industry.
If the "blogger licensing system" is implemented, it could become one of the most stringent measures in Kazakhstan to combat illegal online gambling advertising, and it may also spark debates between freedom of speech and industry compliance.
