Kazakhstan’s Influencer Crackdown: Blogger Qaisar Qamza Wanted for Illegal Betting Promotion

Another digital influencer faces the music—this time in Central Asia. Kazakh authorities have issued a warrant for blogger Qaisar Qamza, accusing him of pushing illegal betting platforms to his substantial following. The move signals a tightening regulatory noose around the neck of social media promotion that crosses legal lines.

The Legal Reckoning

Forget vague warnings. The Financial Monitoring Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan isn't playing around. They've named Qamza directly, linking his online content to illicit gambling operations. It's a stark reminder: an influencer's reach is also their liability. Promotional posts aren't just content; they're potential evidence.

Platforms Under the Microscope

The case throws a harsh spotlight on the channels themselves. Where does platform responsibility end and creator culpability begin? As regulators globally play catch-up, the spaces that host this content—from Telegram channels to video platforms—are finding themselves increasingly in the crosshairs alongside the personalities they boost.

A Warning Shot to the Creator Economy

This isn't an isolated incident. It's part of a broader, global squeeze on unregulated financial and gambling promotions masquerading as casual endorsements. The message to content creators is clear: monetize your audience wisely. The wrong partnership can swap clout for a court date faster than you can say 'terms of service.'

The cynical finance jab? It's the oldest play in the book: using someone else's reputation to bankroll risky ventures—until the house always wins, and that house is the state. A classic case of social capital meeting real-world consequences, proving that in the attention economy, the most valuable currency is still staying on the right side of the law.

Kazakh blogger loses Tether paid for promoting online casinos

A famous blogger from Kazakhstan is now wanted internationally on allegations of promoting illegal gambling on the Internet, his homeland’s Financial Monitoring Agency (AFM) announced.

In the past five years, the 30-year-old Kaisar Kamza Bakytzhanuly was active under the handle “qais_arr” on Instagram, where he had 2.4 million subscribers, and administered a closed Telegram channel with 368,000 members. He also had a TikTok account and a YouTube channel.

Using his social media accounts, he regularly uploaded videos and other commercial materials directly linking to a website for online betting. He also offered followers his personal promo code, which provided special bonuses to users, the agency said.

In its notice posted on Thursday, which was quoted by the Russian business news portal RBC and local media, the AFM detailed further:

“Kamza, K.B. advertised the online platform aimed at attracting citizens to participate in gambling, which allowed him to earn income in the FORM of rewards and percentages.”

The blogger received remuneration for his services in the U.S.-dollar pegged stablecoin Tether. Assets amounting to 182,700 USDT have been seized based on a court order, the regulator also noted.

“To conceal his illegal income, the suspect used a crypto wallet, which received payments from the organizers of the online casino,” the authority stated, asking for any information about his whereabouts that could lead to his detention.

Kazakhstan seizes millions in cryptocurrency in criminal investigations

While working to liberalize and regulate crypto transactions in its economy, the government of Kazakhstan has been cracking down on crypto-related crime.

In November, the interior ministry revealed it had registered over 1,000 criminal cases linked to operations with cryptocurrencies in the past couple of years.

In September 2025, the country seized $10 million worth of digital assets as part of an investigation into a Ponzi scheme that lured investors from across the former Soviet space.

At the end of the month, Kazakhstan disrupted a $224 million crypto laundering service called RAKS, which was quite popular on the dark web. The AFM blocked dozens of its wallets, freezing 9.7 million Tether (USDT).

In 2025, the authorities in Astana restricted access to a total of more than 1,100 illegal crypto trading websites, the agency announced in January, as reported by Cryptopolitan this week.

The news came after last October, the watchdog said it had busted almost 130 unlicensed crypto exchanges, claiming to have confiscated almost $17 million in virtual currencies from their operators.

It’s unclear what the government intends to do with all that digital cash. However, the National Bank of Kazakhstan unveiled in November that it’s going to build a national cryptocurrency reserve.

The latter should be established in the first half of 2026 and will hold the equivalent of up to $1 billion in digital coins. The monetary authority has already earmarked $300 million for the purchase.

Claim your free seat in an exclusive crypto trading community - limited to 1,000 members.