To see a list of Central casinos, select a country from the countries list on your left. Only countries in Central Asia with gambling (casinos, pari-mutuel, poker) are listed.

Visit the Central Asia Gambling Forums or click here for popular casinos in Central Asia or online gambling in Asian countries.

This section of World Casino Directory deals specificially with Central Asian casinos and gambling. The continent of Central Asia has 7 countries with casinos in them and 0 countries with pari-mutuel facilities in them, including horse racing and dog racing or the newer racinos which have slots or video poker terminals within reach of the gamblers. Click the following articles for a run-down on specific gambling in this continent. Central Asian Poker for the poker guide, or Central Asian Lottery for Central Asian lottery results and lottery information and last but not least visit this page for the current gambling news in Central Asia.

Largest Casino in Central Asia

In Central Asia you will find the country of Kazakhstan to have more casinos than any other country in Central Asia, with 28 casinos and 190 slots.

The largest casino in the continent of Central Asia is Grand Casino which is located in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Grand Casino has 13 table games and 150 casino slot machines / video poker games (or other video terminal gaming machines).

Central Asian casinos and Gambling in Central Asia

Casinos in central Asia are as popular as in any part of the world. The region of central Asia, sports casinos in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Kazakhstan and Russia to name a few locations. While many offer legal casinos, casinos without licenses are as popular and visited by many. Here is an overview of the industry.

Gambling in Central Asia

Gambling finds ready buyers throughout all countries in central Asia, irrespective of whether the joints are legal or illegal. Gambling in Nepal started in 1968 when Casino Nepal started operations. Today Nepal has become a popular destination among gamblers in South Asia and has six casinos in total. Along with Sri Lanka, it is the only country in South Asia that awards licenses to operate casinos. Goa in India attracts the rich for gambling and has a few casinos that are legal. Cruise based casinos like the Cavarela in Goa are quite popular.

Locations to gamble at in Central Asia

Not all gambling joints have licenses. Tourists to central Asia may benefit to know that currently Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have no licensed casinos so far. Azerbaijan also does not have a licensed casino as all were closed by the government in 1988. In India, Goa is the only state to have legalized casinos. It now has six casinos, with the offshore Caravela that caters to the rich. The Himachal Pradesh government in India may also soon allow casinos. Nepal has casinos in Katmandu that are Casino Anna, Casino Everest, Casino Nepal, Casino Rad, Casino Royale and Hyatt Regency Katmandu and Tara casino.

Finding Poker in Central Asia

Poker and Caribbean stud poker are offered at most casinos, while not all state so. The Russian Federation in Central Asia has casinos operating in Kazino seven hills, Kazan; Tsentralnaya hotel casino, Esmeralda casino, Novosibirsk; Casino Anna and Casino Nepal offer poker in Nepal. Casino Bars, Casino Grand, Casino Mirage and Casino Viva offer poker games in Kazakhstan.

Pari-mutuel / horse tracks / greyhound racing

Sports events unfailingly attract bets, both legal and illegal, a factor that drives economy in Goa, India. Also Pokhara, Nepal now has the Phulbari Resort and spa that offers poker among other gambling delights. Casino Rad. Statistics would operate this also reveal that soon pari-mutuel wagering will evolve as the game of choice for many.

Gambling as an industry has truly evolved in the conservative areas of central Asia. While many once frowned upon the industry, today the outlook is slowly changing as people come to accept it as an important economy generator.