Georgia Moves to Open Gambling Market to Foreign Operators While Blocking Access for Local Players

Georgia’s government is preparing a significant shift in its gambling regulations, seeking to attract international betting and casino businesses without expanding access for domestic players.

A package of legislative amendments now before Parliament would create a new licensing regime aimed specifically at operators serving customers outside the country. The proposal, submitted under an accelerated review process, introduces several new permit categories under Georgia’s gambling law and offers a substantially lighter tax burden than the one currently applied to companies targeting local users.

At the heart of the plan is a clear distinction between foreign and domestic participation. Operators obtaining the new international licenses would be allowed to offer online casino games, slot products and sports betting services, but only to foreign citizens and stateless persons. Georgian citizens would be excluded from using those platforms.

The government presents the approach as an attempt to balance economic expansion with social policy. While seeking to position Georgia as a base for international gambling businesses, lawmakers argue that limiting access for residents would prevent additional exposure to gambling-related harms within the local population.

Lower Taxes at the Core of the Proposal

The financial incentives are considerable. Online gambling companies operating under the proposed framework would face a gross gaming revenue tax of 5%, calculated on the difference between wagers collected and winnings paid out. Existing online casino operators serving Georgian customers currently face a 20% rate.

Officials backing the legislation contend that the lower tax structure could make Georgia more attractive to foreign operators looking for regional bases. The explanatory materials accompanying the bill point to potential gains in foreign direct investment and employment, particularly in technology-driven fields such as software development, cybersecurity and digital marketing.

The proposal creates three separate permit categories covering online casino products, slot machine games and sports betting services directed at international customers. Licenses would be valid for five years and would require an annual payment of GEL 100,000.

Additional monthly tax obligations would apply throughout the permit period. Companies would also face financial penalties for failing to comply with licensing conditions or payment requirements. Violations could result in fines of GEL 20,000.

Alongside the new licensing structure, lawmakers are seeking tighter rules on internet domains associated with gambling permits. Under the draft, operators would be limited to a single domain per permit rather than the two currently allowed. Existing license holders would receive a transition period before the new restriction takes effect.

The legislation was introduced by members of Parliament Shota Berekashvili, Giorgi Barvenashvili, Tornike Berekashvili, Anton Obolashvili and Mariam Lashkhi.

If approved, the changes would mark one of the clearest attempts by the Georgian state to separate gambling as an export-oriented industry from gambling as a domestic consumer activity. The strategy aims to capture investment and tax revenue from international markets while keeping tighter controls on local participation.

Source: georgiatoday.ge

Georgia Moves to Open Gambling Market to Foreign Operators While Blocking Access for Local Players

Lower Taxes at the Core of the Proposal

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