In Shymkent two organizers of the illegal online casinos Bingo-37 and Lotoboom have been sentenced to 4 years in prison. The two sites had a combined turnover of 3.1 billion tenge, almost $7 million. Cars and land bought with the money were confiscated. The case was investigated by the Shymkent department of Kazakhstan's Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM), Kapital.kz reports. The verdict has not yet entered into force.
How the Bingo-37 and Lotoboom scheme worked
According to the AFM, players were found not through advertising but directly:
- potential players received WhatsApp messages inviting them to play;
- those who replied got an account with a login, password and bank account details for transfers;
- deposits were received and winnings paid out through accounts opened in the names of 14 droppers, nominees who hand over their bank accounts to third parties for a fee.
What was bought and confiscated
The organizers spent over 200 million tenge of criminal proceeds on property: four cars (BYD Destroyer, LiXiang L6 Max, Chevrolet Monza and SsangYong Rexton) and two land plots. Under the verdict all of it was confiscated to the state.
Kazakhstan is tightening the screws on payment schemes
This isn't a one-off case. In July the AFM said that since the start of the year over 112 billion tenge had passed through dropper accounts in Kazakhstan. 33 dropper networks were dismantled, more than 40 organizers identified and over 500 people drawn into the schemes, and more than 1,000 cards were blocked in just two months. The agency stresses that taking part in dropper schemes, meaning handing your card or account to third parties to receive payments, carries criminal liability.
What it means for media buyers
Kazakhstan is still a popular GEO for gambling traffic, but the risks are growing, and not only for casino owners:
- Work only with legal brands. If an offer leads to an unlicensed casino, organizers are hit first, but the AFM takes apart the payment chains around them too.
- Never lend your card or account "for payments". Even a one-off "dropper side job" is a criminal offence in Kazakhstan.
- Check the network and the advertiser. We covered how in our guide how to choose an affiliate network and avoid shaving.
FAQ
What sentence did the Bingo-37 and Lotoboom organizers get?
Two organizers were sentenced to 4 years in prison and their property was confiscated. The verdict is not yet in force.
What was the casinos' turnover?
3.1 billion tenge across two sites, almost $7 million.
Who are droppers?
People who hand their bank cards or accounts to third parties to receive and move money. In Kazakhstan this carries criminal liability.
Sources: Kapital.kz, Informburo.kz, 24.kz, Sportclan.