Finance Ministry investigators charge two for illegal gambling operation
The body noted the damage caused to the state budget was “fully recovered” during the investigation, with the crime punishable by imprisonment for three to five years. Photo: Investigation Service of Georgia’s Ministry of Finance
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The Investigation Service of Georgia’s Ministry of Finance has charged two individuals for operating an illegal gambling business in the country's western Adjara region, the state body said on Thursday.
The Service said its investigation had found the offenders operated a gambling facility in their residential house without required permits.
The venue was used for broadcasting “various types” of gambling sessions live to websites of casinos operating abroad, with the operations causing a loss of about ₾100,000 ($37,740) in permit fees to the state budget.
The body noted the damage caused to the state budget was “fully recovered” during the investigation, with the crime punishable by imprisonment for three to five years.
The Investigation Service of Georgia’s Ministry of Finance on Thursday said its professionals had arrested one individual for attempting to smuggle a “particularly large” quantity of gold items into the country.
The Investigation Service of Georgia’s Ministry of Finance on Tuesday said its professionals had arrested three individuals for selling counterfeit money in separate cases in the country’s capital of Tbilisi and Black Sea city of Batumi.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday announced taxes on the gambling business would be increased to 15 percent, while withdrawal of money from the business would also be taxed at a higher 5 percent from the banks.
The Investigation Service of Georgia’s Finance Ministry has charged three and detained one individual for operating illegal gambling businesses in the country's western Adjara and Samegrelo regions, the state body announced on Tuesday.
Online gambling businesses - including online casinos, slot machines and betting - will be subject to mandatory permits for specific types of operation, following the Georgian government’s reveal of amendments to the relevant law on Monday.
All gambling ads will be banned in Georgia starting March 1, while citizens under the age of 25 will no longer be able to use gambling websites, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has announced.
The Georgian parliament has approved new legislative regulations for online gambling businesses. Eighty-two MPs supported the changes proposed by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in its third and final reading in a 150-member state legislature.