Betting on Hazard Export: Sadyr Japarov Sums Up Results of Casino Legalization
World
Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov declared the legalization of the gambling business a complete success. Four years after the enactment of the controversial law, the authorities report an increase in budget revenues and the return of thousands of migrants from abroad, emphasizing that Kyrgyz citizens in these establishments are merely staff, not players.
Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov, in a media interview, summed up the four-year results of the casino legalization law, calling it a strategically sound decision. According to the head of state, political will has allowed the gambling industry to be transformed into an effective tool for attracting foreign capital. The main argument of critics—the risk of widespread gambling addiction among the population—has not been substantiated: the law strictly prohibits entry for citizens of the country, and throughout its duration, not a single case of a local resident visiting a casino has been recorded.
The primary goal of the reform was the export of gambling services. The authorities placed their bet on wealthy tourists from neighboring countries, who now spend their money in Kyrgyzstan. "We have achieved a balance: the funds that our citizens previously lost abroad are now compensated by the money that foreigners bring to us," Japarov noted. In addition to direct tax contributions to the budget, the industry has become a major job generator. Thousands of Kyrgyz nationals, who previously worked in the gambling zones of Cyprus and other countries, have returned home, gaining the opportunity to work in their specialized field with decent pay.
The history of the issue was complex: casinos were banned in 2012 following public protests. However, the new 2022 law established transparent rules: access is granted only to foreigners over the age of 21. Today, the gambling business is viewed not as a moral dilemma, but as a component of the tourism infrastructure that returns capital to the country through service and entertainment.
The primary goal of the reform was the export of gambling services. The authorities placed their bet on wealthy tourists from neighboring countries, who now spend their money in Kyrgyzstan. "We have achieved a balance: the funds that our citizens previously lost abroad are now compensated by the money that foreigners bring to us," Japarov noted. In addition to direct tax contributions to the budget, the industry has become a major job generator. Thousands of Kyrgyz nationals, who previously worked in the gambling zones of Cyprus and other countries, have returned home, gaining the opportunity to work in their specialized field with decent pay.
The history of the issue was complex: casinos were banned in 2012 following public protests. However, the new 2022 law established transparent rules: access is granted only to foreigners over the age of 21. Today, the gambling business is viewed not as a moral dilemma, but as a component of the tourism infrastructure that returns capital to the country through service and entertainment.
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