Georgia is planning to introduce a new gambling licence category that would allow foreign operators to establish a legal presence in the country while continuing to prohibit access for Georgian citizens. The proposal is contained in draft amendments to the Law on Organising Lotteries, Games of Chance and Other Prize Games, which have already been submitted to parliament and are being reviewed under an expedited procedure.
Under the draft law, three new licence categories will be established for the organisation of:
- International casino games in an electronic system format;
- International slot machine games in an electronic system format;
- International betting games in an electronic system format.
The new licence regime is expected to permit participation only by foreign citizens and stateless persons, while Georgian citizens will be barred from accessing the respective gaming platforms.
The authors of the draft law believe the new regulations will attract new international operators to the country, increase foreign direct investment, and generate additional employment opportunities, including in information technology, marketing, and cybersecurity.
“The adoption of the draft law will allow Georgia to position itself as a competitive, reliable, and innovation-oriented jurisdiction in the gambling industry, contributing to increased investment, growth in the service sector, and higher tax revenues,” the document states.
The draft law will also affect budget revenues. Each permit, issued for a five-year term, will be subject to an annual licensing fee of GEL 100,000 ($37,6 thousand). A 5% profit tax will also be introduced, calculated on a monthly basis as the difference between accepted bets and paid winnings.
A fine of GEL 20,000 ($7,562) will be imposed for violations of licensing conditions or failure to meet the fee payment deadline.
The draft law also introduces stricter domain rules, reducing the current allowance of up to two internet domains per permit to a single website. Existing permits will remain valid under a transitional period until their expiry.
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