Astana, April 22, House of the Mazhilis. Today, the deputies of the Mazhilis at the plenary session approved in the first reading a draft law on gambling, lotteries and lottery activities with accompanying amendments, and also adopted a law on support for the use of renewable energy sources and electric power industry in the second reading. In addition, amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences on Mass Media Issues have passed both readings.

The draft law on gambling, lotteries and lottery activities with accompanying amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences was initiated by parliamentarians as part of the implementation of the instruction of the Head of State to strengthen the fight against gambling addiction among the population. Today they were approved by the Mazhilis in the first reading.

Presenting the bills, the head of the working group, Elnur Beisenbayev, noted that the fight against ludomania is a painful issue for our society.

– Gambling addiction is spreading in Kazakhstan like an epidemic and threatens the security of the country. Therefore, it is very important to eliminate the causes that led to this situation and urgently take measures to cure society of this disease. The bills that we are considering today are designed to put up barriers to the promotion of gambling activities," the deputy stressed.

Elnur Beisenbayev said that the bill provides for the maximum restriction of advertising of bookmakers and casinos. Outdoor advertising on facades of houses, buildings, fences, structures, vehicles is prohibited. Advertising is also completely prohibited in the media, on Internet resources, official websites, TV channels and radio, in periodicals, film, video and reference services, and in SMS mailings from mobile operators. The ban will also affect bloggers on social networks.  

The age limit for participation in gambling and betting is being increased from 21 to 25 years old. A ban on participation in them is established for citizens with outstanding alimony and credit debts, that is, persons who are in the Unified Register of Debtors. Legal entities will be held administratively liable for allowing these categories to participate in gambling.

Criminal liability is also being introduced for organizing the activities of electronic and online casinos. The distribution of lottery tickets and the installation of terminals in residential buildings and dormitories, in detached buildings and structures where cultural organizations are located, in educational organizations, in religious buildings and structures are prohibited.

The organizers of the gaming business, who carry out the activities of a bookmaker or a betting shop, are tasked with ensuring the integration of their hardware and software complexes with the information systems of the State Revenue Agency. Other amendments are also being discussed.

Summing up the results of the vote, Chairman of the Mazhilis Yerlan Koshanov recalled that at the meeting of the National Kurultai, the Head of State instructed to adopt a law on combating ludomania before the end of the current session.

– Before the second reading, deputies need to carefully study all the proposals announced today, comprehensively discuss the bill and finalize it. Experts, representatives of public associations and all interested parties should be involved in this work," the Speaker of the Mazhilis noted.

The deputies also adopted amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences on Mass Media Issues in two readings. The Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva presented it to the parliamentarians.

As the head of the working group Zhanarbek Ashimzhanov explained, the bill is a companion to the law "On Mass Media" adopted by the Majilis last week. The changes are aimed at harmonization with its provisions of the articles of the Administrative Code.

– It is proposed to exclude Article 452 of the Code "Violation of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on broadcasting" with transfer to Article 451 "Violation of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on mass media", since the Law "On Broadcasting" is recognized as invalid. In addition, editorial amendments have been made to improve the content of the draft law, Zhanarbek Ashimzhanov said.

In addition, the deputy law with amendments on support for the use of renewable energy sources and the electric power industry passed the second reading in the Mazhilis. The head of the working group, Baurzhan Smagulov, said that the document was developed in order to implement the tasks set by the Head of State at the meeting on the development of the electric power industry in 2021. The law introduces for the first time the concept of a "small-scale facility for the use of renewable energy sources." Such facilities will be able to sell surplus generated electricity to an energy supply organization at a set marginal tariff. During the preparation for the second reading, the Mazhilismen introduced new norms into the draft.

– Energy supply organizations will be able to carry out priority purchase of electric energy from a hydroelectric power plant with a total capacity of no more than 10 MW, commissioned before July 1, 2023. The investment agreements concluded for the modernization and reconstruction of generating plants using gas as an alternative type of fuel are being expanded. The principles of state regulation in the field of support for the use of renewable energy sources are also being consolidated," Baurzhan Smagulov informed.

The Mazhilis also agreed with the Senate's amendments to the Law "On Amendments and Additions to Some Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on improving legislation in the areas of population migration and the penal enforcement system."

At the end of the plenary session, the Mazhilismen sent 17 deputy requests to state bodies. All of them are available on the official website and Telegram channel of the Mazhilis.

The press service of the Mazhilis - 24-38-22. Photo by T. Tanybaev