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A prominent Kazakh blogger, Ilyas Yusvashev, widely recognized online as "Ilyarchik" (andersonchik1), has been placed on an international wanted list. The Astana city department of the Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM) has accused him of assisting in the organization of an illegal online casino operating without a license within the country.

Allegations of Casino Involvement

According to the AFM, Yusvashev, born in 1998, was involved in the creation and management of the online casino network mellstroy.game between 2024 and 2025. To launder funds received from players and conceal transactions, 22 shell companies were reportedly registered. The operation utilized POS terminals and electronic payment systems, through which over 3.6 billion tenge (approximately $8 million USD) were processed.

Call for Information

Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the wanted individual to contact the Economic Investigation Department for Astana city. Contact numbers provided are +7 7172 70 84 79 (ext. 21384) for the duty unit, or the call center at 1458. Assurances of anonymity and confidentiality are guaranteed.

Broader Investigation into Online Gambling

The AFM also reminded the public that the investigation into Belarusian citizen Andrey Burim, a well-known blogger operating under the alias Mellstroy, is ongoing. Burim allegedly instructed the creation of video content for social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts, promoting the mellstroy.game brand with casino logos and links, to encourage online gambling.

Societal and Economic Impact

The agency highlighted the significant harm caused by these unlicensed online casino operations to society and the economy. Consequences include the enticement of citizens, including minors, into gambling, exacerbating ludomania, leading to financial losses, and facilitating the outflow of capital to offshore jurisdictions.