The name of the well-known online betting and gambling platform Olimpbet has recently been removed from Kazakhstan’s football league and tournament titles. In recent years, the platform has been one of the major sponsors of Kazakh football, serving as an official partner of the Kazakhstan Premier League (KPL) and the Kazakhstan Football Federation (KFF).
In 2024, Kazakhstan introduced legislative changes affecting gambling and betting services. These new regulations imposed restrictions on betting companies’ advertising and limited their ability to sponsor sporting events. As a result, agreements with Olimpbet were reviewed and its name was removed from football competitions.
Some countries have already banned sports sponsorships by gambling and betting companies. For example, the U.K. and Italy have implemented similar restrictions. Following their lead, Kazakhstan introduced comparable measures to limit the link between sports and gambling.
Following Olimpbet’s exit, rumors emerged that a local bank might become the new sponsor of Kazakhstan’s domestic football championships. While this has not been officially confirmed, the KPL is actively seeking new partners.
Earlier media reports highlighted the KFF’s announcement that several football academies will be established in Kazakhstan with support from Kaspi Bank and Freedom Bank. With financing from Kaspi Bank, an academy will be built in either Astana, Almaty or Alatau city, with a full agreement already reached on the project. Additionally, with backing from Freedom Bank, another academy is set to be built in Karaganda.
