Kazakhstan Eyes Licensing for Bloggers to Curb Casino Ads
A Kazakh lawmaker is pushing for a licensing system for bloggers to curb online casino advertising violations. During a plenary session, Senator Gennady Shipovskikh emphasized the need for licensing to provide a legal mechanism for suspending bloggers' activities in cases of breaches. This approach would not only target individual bloggers but also extend oversight to payment service providers and advertising agencies that might facilitate illegal gambling.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The ban extends to outdoor advertising, media content, films, and videos, yet enforcement remains challenging, particularly on social media and messaging platforms.
Additionally, Shipovskikh urges the establishment of a monitoring system to verify the legitimacy of sweepstakes and giveaways prevalent on social platforms, which often serve as veiled promotions for online casinos.
Shipovskikh’s proposal builds on Kazakhstan's existing gaming law that prohibits advertising of online casinos and unlicensed gambling. However, concerns are rising over increasing violations of this regulation, which has been in place since 2024.
According to data from the Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA), 34 bloggers have been identified for promoting illegal platforms, with 11 already facing administrative penalties.
Over the past two and a half years, the FMA has shut down 205 illegal casinos and brought criminal charges against 224 individuals involved in their operations. However, Shipovskikh argued that current penalties fall short of deterrence.
We propose, along with the administrative fines currently applied for advertising illegal online casinos and dubious giveaways, to introduce licensing or create a special register of bloggers. This will allow us to regulate their advertising activities and strengthen their accountability before the law. Ordinary fines do not have the desired deterrent effect. Illegal advertising brings bloggers millions in profits, which significantly exceed the amount of penalties imposed. We also propose to fully utilize the mechanism of criminal liability for such violations"
Push for Criminal Liability and Enforcement
The FMA backs Shipovskikh's proposal, advocating for criminal liability for promoting illegal online casinos, including the confiscation of income earned from such activities.
If it is proven that a blogger participated in the organization of a casino, the distribution of profits, or was otherwise involved in a crime, he will be prosecuted as an accomplice.
Yelemesov also clarified that while current laws already permit prosecution in certain scenarios, expanding criminal penalties would boost enforcement.
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Regulation vs Free Speech
The proposed licensing system could revolutionize Kazakhstan's approach to digital advertising, potentially setting a precedent for regulating social media influencers across Central Asia.
A registration of bloggers would allow authorities to better track and regulate online content, enforce laws, and hold individuals accountable for promoting illegal activities. This move could cause a potential deterrent effect on underground gambling operations, disrupting their online presence. However, critics fear that it could stifle free speech, and authorities might abuse their newfound power to censor dissenting voices.
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