written and last updated by
Sam Smith at
29 Nov 2021
Journalist, Editorial Department
The Georgian government is looking to significantly tighten regulations on online casinos operating within the country. The initiative is spearheaded by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, whose plan aims to restrict access to online gambling for nearly one million individuals.
Recently, the Prime Minister announced the need for a phased ban on online casinos in Georgia. The first step involves increasing the tax burden on gambling operators by 65-70%. Additionally, the proposal includes raising the minimum age for accessing online casino services from 18 to 25, as well as establishing a registry of individuals prohibited from participating in the gambling industry.
"Our team has already outlined the list of citizens who will fall under the new regulations. Firstly, the restrictions will target vulnerable populations receiving social support. Secondly, the registry will include public servants and individuals who voluntarily choose to abstain from gambling. We are also preparing to implement a blacklist, which will include those barred from registering with online casinos by court order or at the request of family members. Preliminary estimates suggest that up to one million of our adult citizens will be affected by these restrictions," Garibashvili stated.
The Prime Minister also noted that the reforms will extend to the advertising of gambling activities. According to him, promoting this sector on television will be completely banned, as will advertising on billboards or within the Georgian internet space. The only legal avenue for promotion will be sponsorship agreements between sports organizations or teams and online gambling operators.
Meanwhile, the opposition has expressed support for Garibashvili's project concerning the gambling industry, but has labeled it as "populist."
It is worth noting that an expert recently identified Ukraine as the most effective country in terms of launching a gambling market.
