Best Kyrgyzstan Betting Sites

Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country located in central Asia. Kyrgyz people are big fans of football. Apart from that, the country has won 2 medals in wrestling in the 2008 Summer Olympics. Due to the country’s cultural background, a significant team game is also Ulak Tartysh, which includes horse riding. Since the dissolution of the USSR, the Kyrgyzstani parliament has voted on 2 laws.

The first one in 2011 and the second one in 2017, establishing gambling prohibition. So, there is no gambling regulation set by a governmental authority, except for state-owned lotteries. The law in place does not specifically mention online gambling. Nonetheless, Kyrgyz bettors take advantage of this loophole and place their bets online. Although there are no betting sites in Kyrgyzstan with a local license, there are plenty of non-licensed international bookmakers available to choose from.

Best Betting Sites in Kyrgyzstan

Since bettors have plenty of options to choose from, here are the top Kyrgyzstan sports betting sites offering the Russian language and accepting payments in RUB or KGS. They also come along with competitive odds and a wide array of football markets.

Betting in Kyrgyzstan - 5 Things to Know

• 1
  Land-based gambling is completely prohibited
• 2
  International bookies don’t hold domestic licenses, but they accept local bettors
• 3
  Although online betting is illegal, bookies with international licenses do not face any restrictions
• 4
  Online betting winnings are not subject to tax
• 5
  Players can bet online without the fear of a fine from the government

General info

⏩Population: 6.586.600

⏩Active players: 800.000

⏩Currency: Kyrgyzstani som (KGS)

⏩Regulated gambling products: No form of gambling is allowed

⏩Designated authority: No designated gambling authority

⏩Operator types: Non-licensed online bookmakers and casinos

⏩Status: Prohibited

Online Betting in Kyrgyzstan: The Gambling Framework

The gambling law in Kyrgyzstan was first established in 2011. It is on the prohibition of all gambling activities, such as betting, casino games, bingo and poker. This was a measure to fight the ever-increasing poverty and crime rates. The legislation is not clear enough regarding online gambling operations.

Avid bettors bypass it and easily bet on international bookmakers with an offshore license. Before 2017, there was no plan in order to change the Kyrgyzstan betting laws and regulations; even though the opposition stated that the government could easily benefit from taxation. In that year, the law ‘’On lotteries’’ was voted in an effort to control the market somehow.

Online betting was once again a grey area. That said, the only difference is that state-owned lotteries are nowadays allowed and launched occasionally and anyone above 18 years of age can participate.

Essential Information for Kyrgyz Bettors

As mentioned above, since there is no particular legislation which includes online betting in Kyrgyzstan; the majority of online sportsbooks provide their services in the local betting market. Players tend to choose from well-established betting sites with international, Russian or offshore licenses without the fear of being fined or imprisoned for breaking the law.

Of course, in Kyrgyzstan, betting taxes are an unknown word as well, as once more, the regulatory structure is indistinct. Since there are no local bookies and things in the online gambling sector are quite blurry; you should bear in mind that there is no form of protection by the state in case you select an unknown or shady bookmaker.

So, it is preferable to trust your money on an international and well-known bookie offering its services in Russian, if possible, since it is the second official language in the country.

Kyrgyzstan Betting: How to Deposit at Online Bookies

Taking into consideration that the government shows a certain tolerance for online gambling, no transaction is blocked by the Kyrgyz banks. Thus, credit/debit cards and bank transfers are among the deposit methods which are available by online bookies. E-wallets, like WebMoney, Jeton and Sticpay, as well as crypto, constitute the best alternatives.

Needless to say, there is a certain limit in the list of bookmakers offering the local currency (KGS). So, ideally, find a bookie accepting transactions in EUR or RUB. Moreover, in order to have a safe betting experience and slip under the radar, you should better choose between e-wallets and cryptos to fund your account.

Gambling Laws in Other Countries

By analyzing the regulations in neighbouring areas, one can gain a better grasp of the established protocols for online gambling. Even though most are part of the former Soviet Union, there are still distinct differences among them. Let's take a look: 

⏩ Russia: On the one hand, land-based sportsbooks and casinos are legal throughout the whole country. On the other, online gambling is only allowed in five specific areas. In addition, there are more than 20 licensed Russian bookies, but players can still access international sportsbooks. 

⏩ Kazakhstan: This is one of the biggest economies in the area. As a result, gambling has also flourished. In 2007, the laws around the industry came into effect, and all types are regulated. Despite the fact that dozens of local Kazakhstan betting sites exist, most players prefer international operators. 

⏩ Tajikistan: Gambling, in general, is legal. There are some strict regulations right now, but these mainly apply to illegal casinos and card games. Online Tajikistan bookmakers are relatively free to accept users. 

⏩ Uzbekistan: After a vote in 2007, all types of gambling in the country are banned. This was supposed to change by the end of 2021, but no new legislation has come into effect yet. Those who elect to play on Uzbekistan betting sites have not faced any severe punishment yet, but we still advise caution. 

The Future of Sports Betting in Kyrgyzstan

On April 21, 2021, the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan adopted a bill on the legalization of land-based casinos; that will open in the Issyk-Kul Region and will be only accepting foreigners and tourists.

According to government officials, though, it is unlikely that gambling will be regulated in full in the country and bookmakers that are active in the online market will continue to flourish. In addition, the state-owned lotteries will remain the only regulated form of gambling for local players.

The government has decided that it is not worth taking the risk to proceed with any other changes; even though the benefit from gambling taxes would be a major financial aid. As the current legislation leaves an open window for bettors to play online on international sportsbooks, the betting landscape will not differ significantly, at least in the near future.