Gambling and online casinos in Georgia

Georgia is one of the few examples of a post-Soviet country where gambling is not only legalized, but also a strategic sector of the economy.

The gambling business here is regulated, taxed and actively integrated into the tourism and digital infrastructure.

Thanks to flexible legislation and a transparent licensing system, Georgia has become the center of iGaming in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, along with Malta and Cyprus.

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Historical context

Gambling in Georgia was legalized shortly after the collapse of the USSR.

In 1992, the first casinos opened in Tbilisi and Batumi, and by the 2000s the country already had its own gambling market.

Since 2011, the digitalization period has begun, and the government has allowed online gambling.

Since then, Georgia has become a platform for major international brands - Adjarabet, CrystalBet, BetLive, EuropeBet and others.

Unlike most neighbors, Georgia chose a model of regulation rather than prohibition, making it "Asian Malta."

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Legislative framework

Main regulatory documents:

1. The Law "On the Organization of Lotteries, Gambling and Winnings" (2005) - regulates the activities of casinos, halls, online gambling and lotteries.

2. Georgian Tax Code (Title XVII) - determines the rates and procedure for paying taxes by gambling companies.

3. Decree No. 389 (2021) - tightened control over online gambling and player identification.

4. Gambling reform (2022) - introduced age and social restrictions.

Key points:

• all types of gambling are allowed - both offline and online;
• licenses are issued by the Ministry of Finance of Georgia through Revenue Service;
• gambling zones established in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Gudauri and Borjomi;
• players must pass identification (KYC);
• participation of citizens under 25 years old, civil servants and socially vulnerable persons is prohibited (reform of 2022);
• online operators are required to use Georgian domains (.ge) and local payment systems.

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Online gambling

Online casinos and sports betting account for about 70% of Georgia's entire gambling market.

All leading companies operate under license and undergo an annual audit.

Licensed Operators:

• Adjarabet. ge is a market leader, part of the international holding company Flutter Entertainment (brand Paddy Power and Betfair).
• CrystalBet. ge is the largest local operator, focusing on sports betting and live-casino.
• EuropeBet. ge - known for innovative slots and tournament mechanics.
• BetLive. ge, LeaderBet. ge, Crocobet. ge - emerging local brands.

All operators are connected to the state online monitoring system (GMS), which records all rates and payments in real time.

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Taxation

Georgia applies a combined tax system for the gambling sector.

Type of activity	Tax/Charge	Ad notata
Land-based casinos	20% of GGR + flat duty	depending on region
Online gambling	10% of GGR	mandatory reporting
Sports betting	5% of turnover	excluding winnings
Casino license	$1-5 million annually	depends on the city
Online gambling license	$100,000/year	universal

According to the Ministry of Finance, in 2024 the gambling sector contributed more than 400 million lari (~ $150 million) to the budget.

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Casino geography

Land-based casinos are only allowed in tourist and resort areas.

The main centres are:

• Batumi - "Georgian Las Vegas," 10 + casinos, including Eclipse, Princess, Casino International.
• Tbilisi - 6 premium casinos including Shangri La, Casino Jewel, Empire.
• Borjomi and Gudauri are resort areas with casino hotels.
• Kutaisi - new investment projects with hotel complexes.

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2022 reform

From January 2022, large-scale changes aimed at protecting citizens came into force:

• introduced a ban on the game for citizens under 25 years old;
• the participation of civil servants, military, students and low-income people is prohibited;
• limited gambling advertising on TV, radio and online platforms;
• players can self-add themselves to the self-exclusion list.

Despite these restrictions, the market did not shrink - it simply became more civilized and socially responsible.

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Control and regulation

The regulation of the gambling sector is carried out by the Revenue Service (tax agency).

It:

• issues licenses;
• monitors compliance with Responsible Gaming;
• maintains a register of operators and customers;
• collects taxes online through the GMS system.

For online gambling, there is a national AML (Anti-Money Laundering) system integrated with the Central Bank.

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Social responsibility

The Georgian government is actively implementing the principles of "responsible play":

• mandatory risk warnings;
• limits on deposits and playing time;
• the "Safe Play Georgia" program;
• free psychological help for addicted players.

Operators are required to transfer 2% of profits to the ludomania prevention fund.

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Economic importance

Gambling is one of the largest sources of income for the budget and tourism.

According to the National Statistics Agency:

• the sector's contribution to GDP - about 2.5%;
• direct jobs - more than 10,000;
• about 1.5 million tourists annually visit Georgia for gambling;
• in Batumi, the share of "gambling tourism" exceeds 35% of all tourist flows.

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Prospects

Georgia intends to strengthen the position of the European center iGaming.

In the coming years, it is planned:

1. Development of new gambling zones in Gudauri and Sighnaghi;

2. Creation of a single licensing portal for online operators;

3. Attracting investments in the live-casino and VR-gaming sector;

4. Expansion of international agreements with Malta and Curaçao.

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Georgia is one of the most progressive and balanced gambling regulatory jurisdictions in Europe.

Here, casinos and online gambling are legal but under strict government control, and Responsible Gaming's system makes the market sustainable and secure.