In Shymkent, the activities of a criminal group that illegally organized gambling business were stopped, reports Todayinfo citing the Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM).
According to the investigation, a resident of Shymkent coordinated a hidden online casino operating through the mobile application 'Texas Holdem'. He created gaming clubs 'Vendetta' and 'AMG600L', uniting them into the 'Nomad' network.
The clubs operated around the clock, attracting players not only from Kazakhstan but also from neighboring Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. To expand the audience, messengers and mailings were used, and a bonus system was introduced. Players topped up their accounts via bank transfers, received 'chips', and withdrew money to their cards when winning.
The organizers took a commission ('rake') of 3-5% from each gaming table, earning a steady income. Virtual loans were issued to retain players. To conceal financial flows, 'dropper' accounts of foreign citizens were used, who were paid 100-200 thousand tenge in rewards. The turnover on all accounts exceeded 557 million tenge.
During a search at the organizer's residence, narcotic substances were also found and seized. A measure of restraint in the form of house arrest was chosen for two suspects, and the criminal case was sent to court. According to the AFM, gambling participants suffered losses of up to 30 million tenge.
