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The Georgia Gaming Control Board approved a new decree that prohibits over one million people from gambling in Georgia. This law was passed in response to the new restrictions on online casinos. It bans gambling by under-25s, public employees, socially vulnerable people, and those who have been blacklisted by the courts.
Lasha Khutsishvili, minister of finance, stated that 1.45 million people are now prohibited from gambling. This includes self-excluders. After being approved by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in December last year, the new law went into effect this month.
Garibashvili last month approved additional restrictions to tighten the country’s gambling laws. One measure will be to ring-fence the online casino licenses so that they can only be held by Georgia-based casinos.
Adjara Group and Crystalbet would be the only operators that could hold online casino licenses. The government will also offer an exclusive license to run online casinos for EUR1.6m.
The government announced plans last year to create separate gaming licenses for certain verticals. This would prevent operators from expanding into other verticals without requiring an additional permit. Each business type (online casino, slot machines, and betting) was to pay EUR35,580 annually.
Gambling advertising on television, websites, and public places was also banned. Additionally, gambling taxes were raised. A ban on casinos on ships is another measure that will be implemented.
The government claims that the measures are intended to align the country with EU expectations when it seeks entry to the bloq. However, there is no EU ban or prohibition on gambling advertising.
