The betting accounting system in Kazakhstan will be entirely state-run.
Market participants in betting and gambling are concerned that the system may become a private monopolistic company that will lobby for the interests of specific individuals. However, the State Revenue Committee assures that this will not happen, as the Unified Accounting System (EUS) will be entirely state-managed.
“The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan adopted a resolution on December 20, 2024, ‘On the establishment of a limited liability partnership “Operator of the Unified Accounting System” with one hundred percent state participation in its authorized capital,” said Damir Nurgaliev, director of the department for the administration of non-production payments and individuals at the SRC.
According to the tax code, bookmakers were required to integrate their databases with the SRC's information system (market participants emphasize that they have already done this a long time ago). This was necessary so that representatives of the gambling business could submit reports on received and paid funds to the tax authorities.
“The information obtained is used to determine turnover and correctly calculate taxes concerning bookmakers. At the same time, the integration does not involve checking the identities of the betting participants,” emphasized Damir Nurgaliev.
The SRC added that the expenses for the implementation of the EUS are not included in the republican budget for 2025-2027.
At the end of December, the “Association of Bookmakers of Kazakhstan” sent a letter to the Anti-Corruption Agency, complaining about attempts to monopolize the betting market under the pretext of enforcing the new “anti-gambling law.” We previously reported on how a similar scheme already created a monopoly in the lottery market here. Additionally, we discussed why bookmakers fear abuses during the implementation of the EUS in this article.