The government of Kazakhstan may have identified an effective tool in countering illegal gambling operators.

According to data from analytics firm Blask, online gaming activity fell by 50% in the first week of June following May directives from Kazakh authorities introducing telecom blocking measures and restrictions on mobile payments targeting illegal online casinos.

Such a sharp decline suggests that targeting the infrastructure supporting the black market is an effective way to combat the illicit sector. Blask noted that the intervention effectively cut off key access points and financial transaction channels used by grey-market operators.

Online casinos are explicitly prohibited in Kazakhstan, while online sports betting is only permitted through a limited number of licensed local bookmakers.

In addition to Kazakhstan, similar declines in online gaming activity were observed in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan — by 49.5% and 40.5%, respectively — also driven by telecom restrictions.

Blask expects these measures to establish a new equilibrium in Kazakhstan’s gambling market, as a significant portion of the black market is “systematically eliminated” from the country.

The fight against the black market is increasingly shifting toward targeting its peripheral elements, as regulators and law enforcement agencies seek more effective methods to combat illegal activity.

Last week in Vietnam, police arrested Pham Ngoc Manh, head of digital marketing agency Super Thi Seo Media Services.

Investigators allege that Manh and his company drove traffic to illegal gambling websites while posing as a legitimate marketing business.

According to authorities, since the beginning of 2026, the company has earned around 3.7 billion Vietnamese dong (approximately $145,000) by promoting illegal websites, including 22 Vietnamese-language gambling platforms.

As part of the investigation, 17 additional managers and employees were detained on suspicion of involvement in the scheme.

Meanwhile in Europe, speaking at the recently concluded Gaming in Holland conference, Ella Seijsener, Director of Licensing and Supervision at the Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA), said the regulator plans to shift from fines to broader action targeting the infrastructure that supports the black market.

She stated: “We intend to break down the infrastructure around illegal providers and make it impossible for them to operate in our Dutch markets.

“We are open about the fact that fines are almost impossible to collect and thus are almost never paid. What is more effective is our comprehensive approach by working with hosting providers, banks, payment service providers and marketing companies.”

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