Commenting on the draft law, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic proposed that gambling establishments be opened across the country.
On April 27, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov said he was ready to veto the law on the legalisation of casinos if the people categorically opposed it. Japarov suggested holding additional extended discussion on various platforms to accommodate the views of all, the press office of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic reported.
Earlier, the President had supported the idea of setting up a gambling zone in Issyk-Kul Region, on the territory of which casinos would become legal. Moreover, the leader of Kyrgyzstan intended to propose that gambling zones be set up in the administrative centres of the regions and Bishkek.
Kyrgyzstan introduced a ban on casinos in January 2012. In 2015, sweepstakes and bookmakers stopped operating. The opponents of this initiative noted that as the result of the gambling ban, the budget would lose 600 million soms, and 11,000 people would lose their jobs. It was proposed later that casinos be opened at the Manas and Osh airports and in Issyk-Kul and Batken Regions to improve economic conditions in the country.
