PM Garibashvili: gambling ad ban to deal with “one of the biggest problems” for population

The introduction of the ban on gambling advertising in Georgia starting today will deal with “one of the biggest problems” of the country’s population, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Tuesday.

The head of the government said “lots of people - minors, young, vulnerable people” were addicted to online gambling, with up to one million citizens affected by the ban, announced by the PM recently.

In addition to the restriction on ads, citizens under the age of 25, socially vulnerable persons, and public officials will no longer be able to use gambling websites, Garibashvili said in a social media post.

The Prime Minister cited 1.5 billion GEL ($312 million/€278 million) spent by citizens annually in online casinos in his announcement, adding the ban was now also placed on payments to gambling businesses abroad.