Two residents of Almaty have been found guilty of organising an illegal gambling business through live streams on TikTok. The court has passed sentence on both defendants.
As reported by the Financial Monitoring Agency (AFM) department for the city of Almaty, the investigation established that the convicted individuals systematically conducted gambling activities during live streams on the popular social network TikTok. Participants in these streams transferred money to the organisers' bank accounts, taking part in gaming draws that had the hallmarks of an illegal gambling business.
The court reviewed the case and found both defendants guilty. One of them has been sentenced to 1.5 years' imprisonment, and the other has been given 2.5 years' restriction of liberty. The total amount of criminal proceeds obtained was more than 10.5 million tenge.
Of particular concern is the fact that a significant part of the audience for such streams was made up of young people. This highlights a worrying trend — the involvement of minors and young users in risky forms of online entertainment, which are not only illegal but also potentially dangerous, leading to psychological addiction and financial difficulties.
In April, the Head of State signed a package of laws aimed at combating gambling addiction and improving access to medical care for the population. The changes affected the laws «On Advertising» and «On the Gambling Business», introducing strict restrictions on advertising for bookmakers and totalisators.