New Licensing Rules for Georgia’s Gambling Industry: What International Operators Need to Know
As of July 3, 2026, a new regulatory framework for Georgia’s gambling industry is in force. The Georgian Parliament adopted a package of legislative amendments on June 25, 2026. The amendments were published on July 3 and entered into force immediately upon publication. The changes affected legislation governing the organization of games of chance and games of skill, licenses and permits, licensing fees, and the gambling tax.
The key change is the introduction of separate licences for the international operation of games of chance and games of skill in electronic form.
What New Permits Have Been Introduced?
The legislation provides for three new types of permits:
- a permit for the international organization of casino games in a system-electronic format;
- a license for the international operation of slot machine games in electronic form;
- a license for the international organization of totalizator games in a system-electronic format.
“International operation” refers to the conduct of games via the Internet, telephone, or specially equipped electronic means for participants outside the domestic Georgian market. A key feature of this regime is that Georgian citizens may not participate in such games. The law expressly prohibits the holder of an international license from allowing Georgian citizens to participate in the relevant games of chance or games of skill.
Validity Period of Licenses
Each international license is valid for five years.
International licenses may be issued even if the applicant does not hold a separate license to operate a land-based casino, slot machine parlor, or sports betting facility. Thus, the legislation treats international online gaming operations as a separate, regulated sector.
However, under a single license, operations are permitted only through a website hosted on a single domain name. If an operator engages in multiple lines of business or uses multiple separate domains, the requirement to obtain additional licenses must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Licensing Fees
The annual licensing fee is GEL 100,000 for each type of new license. The same annual fee applies separately to each of the following categories:
- casino games;
- slot machine games;
- totalizator games.
Accordingly, the fee is payable separately for each license obtained.
The fee for the first year must be paid in full before the license is issued. Thereafter, the license holder pays the established amount annually and submits proof of payment to the licensing authority no later than the end of each subsequent 12-month period, calculated from the date the license was issued. If the permit is terminated early, there is no obligation to pay the remaining portion of the fee for subsequent periods.
Key Compliance Requirements
Applications and supporting documents must be submitted to the Georgian Revenue Service. For online gambling operations, the operating rules must specify the website address, player registration procedure, and rules governing user deposits and account balances.
The operator’s website must provide information in Georgian and English, including the operator’s name, registered address, contact telephone number and license number. A list of the games offered, their detailed rules, and information regarding the prohibition on participation by Georgian citizens must also be published. The law requires separate notification regarding the prohibition on participation by foreign citizens and stateless persons under the age of 18.
The legislation also provides for monitoring compliance with licensing conditions through an electronic gambling business monitoring system. Changes to the essential products, services, or technical solutions used must be reported in advance to the Revenue Service in cases specified by law.
Failure to pay the licensing fee by the due date may result in a GEL 20,000 fine for holders of the new international licenses.
Licensing Fees and Gambling Tax
The annual licensing fee of 100,000 lari must be distinguished from the gambling business tax.
At the same time, the rules determining liability for gambling tax were amended. Holders of licenses for the international operation of casinos, slot machines, and electronic betting systems are exempt from paying this tax. However, this exemption does not eliminate the obligation to pay the established annual licensing fee.
What These Changes Mean for International Operators
The new framework establishes a separate licensing regime in Georgia for operators offering electronic gambling services to international players. The regime introduces separate licenses for each game category, each valid for five years and subject to a fixed annual fee.
For international operators, the new regime requires careful planning of the games they intend to offer, the domains they will use, and their technical and compliance infrastructure. Particular attention should be paid to mechanisms that prevent Georgian citizens and underage foreign users from participating in the relevant games.
Thus, the changes, which took effect on July 3, 2026, simultaneously establish a separate licensing model for the international segment and set additional requirements for transparency, technical oversight, and compliance with restrictions on the scope of participants.
If you are considering entering Georgia’s international gambling market or already operate under the new regime, REVERA’s team can advise on licensing requirements, corporate structuring, domain and technical compliance, and ongoing regulatory obligations.
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