KAFU Addresses the Issue of Problem Gambling and Combating Illegal Gambling Operations
On October 31, 2026, the Kazakh-American Free University (KAFU) hosted a preventive awareness event focused on a pressing contemporary social issue: problem gambling (ludomania) and the fight against illegal gambling operations. The session was organized for fourth-year students enrolled in the “Jurisprudence” (Law) educational program.
The event featured a comprehensive, practice-oriented agenda. A highlight for the audience was a video interview based on the real-life story of an individual who faced the severe consequences of a gambling addiction. Through this concrete example, attendees were able to see how an addiction develops over time, the financial and psychological crises it can trigger, and how it leads to the breakdown of family and social ties.
Following the video, the event transitioned into a lecture and a detailed legal analysis of the subject. Participants examined the current legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan governing the gambling industry. Students were briefed on the provisions of criminal and administrative law that establish liability for organizing or conducting illegal gambling activities, providing premises for such operations, and facilitating the involvement of individuals in gambling.
Special attention was given to civil law aspects—specifically, the procedures for limiting the legal capacity of individuals whose excessive gambling places their families in dire financial straits, as well as mechanisms for self-exclusion.
To conclude the session, participants discussed practical strategies for addressing problem gambling. Topics included the early identification of signs of addiction, the development of financial and legal literacy among young people, and the various forms of psychological and legal support available to those in need. The event helped students gain a deeper understanding of the legal and social risks associated with gambling, and fostered a responsible attitude toward the issues of gambling addiction and illegal gambling operations.
