Karaganda group moved 415 million tenge through 23 drop accounts for Vavada casino

September 28, 2026 at 09:36 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Kazakhstan's Financial Monitoring Agency has stopped a Karaganda group that ran a round-the-clock cash-in/cash-out operation for the Vavada online casino. The group used 23 drop accounts to move more than 415 million tenge. Two suspects are under house arrest and their property has been seized as the case goes to court.

Key Facts

The Financial Monitoring Agency's Karaganda department stopped the group with the coordination of the prosecutor's office.
The scheme was launched in January 2026 after organizers reached an agreement with Vavada representatives to receive and withdraw money in Kazakhstan.
Operators worked in shifts around the clock in a rented office in Karaganda.
A total of 23 drop accounts were used, with transactions exceeding 415 million tenge.
Two suspects were placed under house arrest, and a court sanctioned the seizure of a private house, two land plots, and a Mercedes-Benz car.

Scheme Structure

The Financial Monitoring Agency's Karaganda department, coordinated by the prosecutor's office, stopped the group's activity. In January 2026, the organizers agreed with Vavada representatives to receive and withdraw money on Kazakhstan's territory. One member coordinated the group and communicated with casino representatives, while another recruited drop account holders, arranged access to their bank accounts, and selected operators. Operators worked in shifts around the clock in a rented office in Karaganda.

Financial Scale

The scheme involved 23 drop accounts, through which transactions exceeded 415 million tenge. DKNews calculated that the minimum declared turnover averages more than 18 million tenge per account. The figure represents transaction volume, not income for account holders or organizers.

Legal Measures

Two suspects were placed under house arrest as a pretrial restriction. A court sanctioned the seizure of their property, including a private house, two land plots, and a Mercedes-Benz car. The criminal case has been sent to court. Further information is not subject to disclosure under Article 201 of Kazakhstan's Criminal Procedure Code.