Kazakh Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports Baurzhan Rapikov has said that four regions of Kazakhstan were selected for the construction of new casinos as part of efforts to boost inbound tourism.

Rapikov said that the new casino facilities will operate exclusively for foreign visitors and are designed to attract high-spending international tourists to the country, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

The projects are planned in the East Kazakhstan Region, Almaty Region, Mangistau Region, and Zhetysu Region.

“The expected economic effect includes about 500 jobs per casino, annual tax revenues of 2-4 billion tenge ($3.971-7.943 million), and growth in the number of gambling tourists from the current 100,000 to 200,000,” the deputy minister said.

At present, casino operations in Kazakhstan are permitted only in Konayev and in the Shchuchinsk-Borovoye Resort Area, with access open to both domestic and foreign visitors.