Gov’t plans to impose restrictions for online gambling, increase fees

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili says the government has plans to increase fees for online gambling businesses – which are mostly foreign owned – as well as to ban ads, and increase the lower age limit for gamblers to 25 years. 

Garibashvili said earlier today that about 1.5 billion GEL flows out of the country annually due to online casinos. 

This is the money of the country’s poor population. 99% of the individuals who are engaged with online gambling are socially vulnerable,” Garibashvili said. 

He stated that the country’s Finance Ministry will present a bill on new regulations for online casinos in the near future.

Garibashvili said that the restrictions are expected to be imposed at the first stage, while later online gambling may be banned in Georgia. 

Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili says that increased fees for online casinos amid new restrictions which will decrease the number of users, will ensure lower impact on their contribution to the state budget. 

Khutsishvili also said that the complete ban on online gambling is not expected 'this or the next year.'