Seven Casino Brands Named in Kazakhstan’s KZT191B Payment Case

The companies operated hundreds of terminals across multiple banks, according to the AFM’s statement. Investigators named Nomadgames, Sultangames, Pinco, Pin-UP, Vavada, Mostbet and 1WIN among the online casinos served by the payment network.

How Casino Payments Were Disguised as Purchases

The transactions were disguised as ordinary purchases. Company and sole-trader details were used to register internet acquiring terminals, sometimes without the business owners’ knowledge.

Fake contracts and websites created the appearance of legitimate sales. Money collected through these channels was sent to foreign counterparties, including through cryptocurrency.

The AFM says the alleged organiser is in custody. A court has authorised the seizure of four vehicles and KZT103 million in cash. The agency has not named the three companies or disclosed a trial date.

KZT286M in Estimated Commission

The November 9 announcement gives three financial figures:

• KZT191 billion ($427.2 million) in processed transactions;
• KZT286 million ($639,600) in estimated commission;
• KZT103 million ($230,400) in cash placed under a court-ordered asset freeze.

USD conversions use the National Bank of Kazakhstan’s November 9 rate of KZT447.14 per dollar.

15M’s calculation puts the estimated commission at approximately 0.15% of the reported transaction volume. That is a ratio between two figures supplied by investigators, not a confirmed processing fee or evidence of how much the companies actually earned.

Earlier Casino Cases and the Affiliate Question

The brands have appeared in previous AFM announcements. On October 29, the agency reported a case involving Nomadgames and Sultangames, with more than KZT188 billion processed through payment terminals.

On November 6, 15M covered the KZT106 billion PIN-UP and Pinco investigation, including the search for Dmitry Punin and Marina Ilyina. The three reported transaction totals may overlap and require separate treatment.

The AFM’s November 9 statement describes alleged assistance to illegal gambling operations through payment services. Advertising affiliates are not mentioned among the suspects.

For affiliates targeting Kazakhstan, an operator’s licensing status and the payment companies handling player deposits are separate compliance questions.