Kyrgyzstan Reports 24 Licensed Online Casino Operators As Market Expands

Kyrgyzstan has issued licences to 24 online casino operators, according to the country's Financial Market Regulation and Supervision Service, providing an updated picture of the gambling sector four years after its legalisation.

Kairat Mamatov, Chairman of the Financial Market Regulation and Supervision Service, disclosed the figure during a parliamentary committee meeting on 15 September 2026.

Mamatov also acknowledged that Kyrgyz citizens continue to access gambling websites registered outside the country, despite legislation prohibiting them from participating in locally licensed casino gambling.

The figures highlight the expansion of Kyrgyzstan's licensed online casino sector alongside the continuing challenge of restricting domestic access to gambling services.

Online Casino Licensing Expands Since 2022 Reform

Kyrgyzstan reopened its gambling market under legislation introduced in 2022, establishing a licensing framework for casino operators while restricting participation to foreign customers.

The country's Gambling Act explicitly prohibits Kyrgyz citizens from becoming customers of gambling establishments, meaning licensed operators must direct their services towards eligible foreign players.

The latest announcement indicates that 24 online casino operators have now received licences under the regulatory framework.

However, the regulator's publicly available register provides a different breakdown, listing 12 virtual casino administration records and 10 virtual casino operator records.

These 22 records should not be interpreted as contradicting the reported total of 24 licensed operators, as the register distinguishes between different licence categories and may not count companies in the same manner as the regulator's announcement.

The figures nevertheless demonstrate how the sector has developed since its initial licensing period.

A regulatory risk assessment recorded just four virtual casino administration licences and four operator licences as of March 2024. At that stage, the regulator reported that the online casino sector had not yet commenced operations because of regulatory and banking difficulties.

The combined number of licence records across the two categories has subsequently increased from eight to 22.

Casino Licensing Generates Government Revenue

The expansion of Kyrgyzstan's regulated gambling sector has also generated revenue through licensing fees.

According to the Financial Market Regulation and Supervision Service's 2024 annual report, the government collected KGS178.9 million (approximately $2.05 million) from land-based and online casino licensing during the year.

Land-based casino licences accounted for KGS168 million (approximately $1.92 million) of that total, leaving KGS10.9 million (approximately $124,600) attributable to online casino licensing.

The US dollar equivalents are based on the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic's exchange rate of KGS87.45 per dollar on 15 September 2026.

These figures relate specifically to licensing receipts in 2024 rather than total gambling tax revenue or operator turnover.

The regulator has not disclosed updated licensing revenue for 2025 or 2026 alongside its latest announcement, making it difficult to establish the financial impact of the subsequent increase in licensed operators.

Domestic Players Continue To Access Offshore Casinos

Despite the growth of the licensed market, Kyrgyzstan continues to face challenges enforcing restrictions on gambling participation by its own citizens.

During the parliamentary committee meeting, Mamatov acknowledged that Kyrgyz residents continue to use online casino websites registered outside the country.

The issue reflects a distinction within Kyrgyzstan's gambling framework: licensed domestic operators are permitted to serve eligible foreign customers, but Kyrgyz citizens are excluded from their authorised customer base.

Consequently, the existence of a growing licensed sector does not necessarily provide a regulated domestic alternative for residents who wish to gamble online.

The regulator has not disclosed figures showing how many Kyrgyz citizens access offshore platforms, the value of their gambling activity or the scale of enforcement action against unauthorised websites.

The latest licensing figures indicate continued development of Kyrgyzstan's online casino industry since the 2022 reforms, although the authorities have yet to establish how effectively the restrictions on domestic participation are being enforced.