The social costs of gambling in Central Asia: insights from Kazakhstan’s addiction crisis

Gambling has become a prominent feature of Central Asia's shifting economies, reshaping social life and governance across the region. While some states maintain prohibitions, others, including Kazakhstan, have legalized gambling as a tool for revenue generation and tourism development. This expansion, however, has produced significant social costs, including family disruption, rising indebtedness and declining public trust. This article argues that gambling addiction in Kazakhstan is not merely an individual disorder but a structural vulnerability emerging at the intersection of digital capitalism, welfare retrenchment and contradictory state policies that simultaneously promote and regulate gambling. Drawing on qualitative documentary analysis, policy review and contextual interpretation, the study examines how post-2007 gambling legislation, the confinement of casinos to special zones and the rapid expansion of online and mobile betting platforms have contributed to increasing addiction, household financial distress and governance risks, including corruption and coercion among public officials. Situating Kazakhstan within broader regional and global debates, the article demonstrates how fiscal incentives and regulatory gaps convert economic gains into long-term social and institutional costs. It concludes by emphasizing the need for public health-oriented and coordinated policy responses.