Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov defended the 2022 law allowing casinos in an interview with Kaktus.media, stating it was a decision based on political will and serves state interests.

Japarov claimed that before the law was passed, there were concerns that citizens would start visiting casinos, leading to family breakdowns. However, he asserted that not a single Kyrgyz citizen has been recorded entering a casino. The focus, he said, was always on tourists and wealthy citizens from neighboring countries.

The president emphasized that wealthy foreigners are leaving their money in Kyrgyzstan, benefiting the economy through tourism. Additionally, thousands of compatriots who previously worked abroad have returned and are now employed in local casinos.

Japarov noted that casinos generate budget revenue while citizens remain unharmed. He argued that a balance has been achieved: funds previously lost abroad are now compensated by money lost by foreigners in Kyrgyzstan.

In Kyrgyzstan, gambling is allowed only for legal entities in the form of LLC or CJSC with a 10-year license. Casinos cannot be located in residential buildings, educational, medical, religious, or cultural institutions. Kyrgyz citizens, foreigners under 21, and incapacitated foreigners are prohibited from gambling.

Source: www.gazeta.uz