Giorgi Mamulaishvili, Head of the Georgian Gambling Association (GGA), has stated that the country could become a regional gambling hub under the proposed legislative changes.
Speaking to BMGTV, Mamulaishvili welcomed planned amendments to the Law on Lotteries, Gambling and Betting, which would introduce a new licensing category for operators registered outside Georgia.
Under the proposal, foreign gambling companies would be able to obtain a Georgian licence and legally operate in the country while targeting international markets. However, Georgian citizens would remain prohibited from accessing these platforms.
According to Mamulaishvili, several companies currently operate in Georgia without holding a local licence, claiming they do not provide services to Georgian residents. The proposed framework would incentivise these businesses to obtain licences and further expand their presence within the country.
As always at Global Gaming Insider, it is important to consider the source of these views. While the points raised may be valid and worthy of consideration, they originate from an industry trade association and should therefore be viewed in that context
A key element of the proposal is a 5% tax on gross gaming revenue (GGR), which Mamulaishvili said would provide a direct contribution to the state budget.
He also highlighted the potential benefits for related sectors, including financial services, payment processing, banking and information technology.
The proposed framework would require operators to host servers in Georgia and utilise local payment systems.
Mamulaishvili said Georgia is well-positioned to establish itself as a gambling hub connecting European and Asian markets.
He also argued that the country's existing regulatory framework already provides strong oversight of the gambling sector.
User identification and verification systems allow authorities to monitor player activity effectively, while the risk of money laundering within the industry remains low, he said.
The GGA recently warned that the country’s gambling market is under growing pressure from illegal operators, with an estimated GEL 2bn ($742.2m) leaving the country annually through unregulated platforms
