Foreign Internet Casinos Received 191 Billion Tenge: Criminal Case Sent to Court

An investigation into assisting the illegal operations of foreign online casinos has concluded in Kazakhstan. According to the Financial Monitoring Agency, the suspects processed transactions totaling 191 billion tenge through the payment systems of three companies under their control. The criminal case has been officially forwarded to court.

Investigators revealed that the network incorporated hundreds of payment terminals installed across various banks. These terminals were utilized to transfer funds to foreign online casino platforms, including Nomadgames, Sultangames, Pinco, Pin-UP, Vavada, Mostbet, and 1WIN. The total volume of transactions reached 191 billion tenge, with accumulated commission fees amounting to 286 million tenge.

To conceal the true nature of the financial transactions, the perpetrators used the credentials of legal entities and individual entrepreneurs, some of whom were unaware that their details were being used.

Payment acceptance terminals were registered under the names of these entities. Using fraudulent contracts and purpose-built websites, the money transfers were misrepresented as payments for goods and services before being wired to foreign entities, including via cryptocurrency.

The suspected organizer of the operation has been taken into custody. With court approval, assets including four vehicles and 103 million tenge in cash have been seized.

The Financial Monitoring Agency stated that, pursuant to Article 201 of the Criminal Procedure Code, further details of the investigation remain confidential.