Obtaining a Gambling Licence in Georgia: Detailed Guidance

The country is located at the intersection of trade routes, has a strong tourism market, and liberal legislation. All this creates favourable conditions for the implementation and scaling of entertainment projects.

Experts of the Casino Market studio will describe how and why it is worth getting an iGaming licence in Georgia. You will also learn what documents to prepare to quickly launch a profitable startup.

Order Service

History of the Development of the Gambling Business

The first land-based halls with slot machines appeared in the jurisdiction in the late 80s of the last century. They were mainly for tourists who visited the state for the sake of beautiful mountain scenery and warm sea air.

After the country gained independence, most of the casino locations continued to work illicitly. At the same time, the largest holdings engaged in the hotel business and entertainment entered the market.

In 2005, the local government adopted the first gambling laws:

• on the organisation of lotteries and profitable games for money;
• on certificates and permits.

The regulations were aimed at legalising the industry, bringing grey businesses out of the shadows, and increasing budget revenues. The changes also simplified casino licensing in Georgia, making this procedure more understandable, transparent, and accessible to operators.

In the early 2010s, the first online startups began to appear. This coincided with the rapid development of mobile communications and the popularisation of new-generation devices.

Previously, to launch legal iGaming sites in Georgia, entrepreneurs were required to get permission to accept bets in land-based locations. In 2024, a lot has changed: the government divided offline and digital spaces and offered transparent working conditions for each type of project.

Casino Products in the Country

Features of the entertainment market:

1. All types of gambling solutions are allowed here. These are offline and online establishments, halls with slot machines, poker rooms, websites, and points for selling lottery tickets. Business owners can also launch portals with sportsbook options or bets on cyber competitions, live platforms, and virtual sweepstakes.
2. For legal work, a special certificate is required. The Georgian licence is issued for 5 years. After that, the document can be extended under a simplified procedure.
3. The Revenue Service is responsible for granting permits. The regulator also monitors the compliance of holders of a permit with the requirements imposed on them, maintains a register of self-excluded persons, and conducts online monitoring of the operators' work.

Today, the local entertainment sector makes a significant contribution to the country’s development. Bookmakers’ offices, poker rooms, and iGaming sites with a Georgian licence generate from 8 to 10% of the total revenues to the public treasury.

Capitalisation and taxes from related sectors of the economy are also growing. Technology companies and sports media are the most lucrative.

According to the results of 2023, betting platforms, land-based clubs, certified turnkey casinos, and other projects generated $290 million in receipts to the budget in the form of:

• taxes;
• state fees;
• duties;
• social contributions for hired employees.

The casino and sportsbook industry creates thousands of jobs. Thus, according to the Georgian Gambling Association, more than 15 thousand highly paid specialists work in the market. Another 18 thousand are involved in related industries, such as tourism, hotel, and restaurant businesses.

How to Obtain a Casino Licence in the Jurisdiction

Giorgi Mamulaishvili, head of the GGA, noted:

The local gambling niche is one of the leaders in terms of the quality of regulation. The government has developed clear and understandable rules of work, which attract both domestic entrepreneurs and foreign investors.

Let us consider how to get a local permit in 2024:

1. Register a legal entity. The owner may be a resident or a citizen of another country. In the future, operators will not be able to open a bank account or obtain a TIN from the tax service without creating a company in Georgia.
2. Pass RSI certification. The document is issued to a specific person, most often the founder or holder of a controlling stake. If the firm is small, the general manager can undergo authorisation. Those who decide to buy a casino licence in the state will be connected to a single online monitoring system through a personal RSI code.
3. Legalise content. All games and services that entrepreneurs plan to offer must be tested in independent laboratories. These are QUINEL, BMM TestLabs, and other specialised centres with local accreditation. The main attention is paid to the correct functioning of the RNG (it must not be lower than 90%).
4. Fill out an application form. It can be sent electronically along with other documents. This is information about the games and systems, connected payment programs, and security software used. It is also necessary to provide the company’s development plan for 3 years.

How Much a Georgian Casino Licence Costs

The price consists of 2 parts:

1. Annual fee. Its size depends on the type of activity. The largest amount is transferred by land-based casinos (from $37 thousand to $185.5 thousand). A local certificate for opening a bingo hall will cost $5.5 thousand.
2. Quarterly deduction. It is intended for offline locations that have card and roulette tables, as well as slot machines. An additional sum is charged for each unit of equipment, from $742 to $14.8 thousand. Operators also transfer 10% of their income received from the sale of lottery tickets, $92.7 thousand for organising sweepstakes. There are also other fees that must be sent to the state treasury.

Many resort areas are exempt from the quarterly payments. This increases their attractiveness in the eyes of investors. Today, many large casino complexes and hotels are built on the Black Sea coast, not in the capital where the fiscal burden on business is traditionally the highest.

The government has established a single tax of 15% of GGR (gross gaming revenue). This is the difference between all players’ bets and the prizes they receive. The levy must be paid every month.

Responsible Approach to Gambling

Georgia has an average level of ludomania by European standards. It is from 0.64% to 0.8%, which does not exceed 1%. Thus, out of 100 active users, less than one person may be found to have atypical and destructive behaviour caused by the placement of bets.

However, the local authorities are concerned about the spread of gambling addiction in the country. They are actively solving this problem, taking care of honest customers and legal operators.

Key innovations in the market:

1. Raising the age limit. A Georgian licence gives the right to accept bets from local citizens who are 25 years or older. Foreigners can play if they are 18+.
2. Mandatory identification. Access to land-based locations and iGaming sites is prohibited for public officials, low-income citizens, and Income Support recipients. If clients have previously added themselves to the list of self-excluded persons, they will not be able to visit casinos or bookmakers’ offices. A third party, such as a relative or a municipal service, can also include a user in the register by a court decision.
3. Ban on advertising. The government only allows sponsorship. Other forms of marketing, including placement of materials in the media, on radio or television, and online are strictly prohibited.
4. Bonus restrictions. The authorities introduced a 10% tax on each additional draw that operators offer their customers. Such changes have reduced the uncontrolled rewards, which were often used by illegal and “grey” entrepreneurs, to a minimum.

Features of iGaming Platforms

An online casino licence in Georgia is issued for 5 years.

The cost of the document is $1.79 million. Besides, the project owners must pay quarterly fees of $92.7 thousand to $111.3 thousand.

Until 2024, operators had to first open a land-based hall with slot machines to launch a digital startup later. At the beginning of this year, the government changed the rules, separating the legalisation process for offline and virtual locations.

The innovation was positively received by businessmen and foreign investors who have wanted to enter the market for several years.

Modern casinos on the Internet have a large selection of entertainment content. These are digital slots, table games, cards, multiplayer fishing, and sessions with live dealers. All solutions must have certificates of conformity. Entrepreneurs are also required to connect their websites to the online state monitoring system.

Advantages of Working in Georgia

Let us consider the main advantages of launching a gambling platform in the jurisdiction:

1. Transparent regulation. The government has completely eliminated the grey market and is actively fighting offshore portals. The regulator has introduced fair and transparent rules for legal operators and proposed effective mechanisms to protect players.
2. Favourable geographical position. The country is located at the crossroads of trade routes to Europe and Asia. This makes it an important business centre where capital flows from all over the world. Unlike neighbouring states where entertainment is limited to gambling zones or prohibited, the local market is thriving.
3. Quick issuance of a permit. The application is reviewed within 20 days, after which project owners receive a notification of a positive outcome of the case. The execution of the document can be accelerated by paying an additional fee to the public treasury.
4. Fair price. Many entrepreneurs are upset when they learn how much a Georgian casino licence costs. The authorities have indeed set fairly high fees. At the same time, there is no requirement to have a financial guarantee in the country. Thanks to this, operators can save tens of thousands of dollars at the start and redirect funds to the strategic development of their brands.
5. Developed IT infrastructure. Powerful IT hubs, innovative data centres, and other important facilities have been built on the territory of the state. Moreover, the region is covered by a wireless 4G network.

The Main Thing about Gambling in Georgia

This is an economically advanced and attractive jurisdiction where the placement of bets is completely legal.

Key features that project owners need to take into account:

• Casino entertainment is an important part of the local financial sector. It generates tens of thousands of dollars in budget revenues, creates new jobs, as well as attracts investment in the niche and related industries.
• The government has provided a simple and clear licensing procedure. Entrepreneurs need to register a legal entity, open a bank account, obtain an RSI certificate, and buy reliable software. The permit is issued for 5 years.
• The advantages of working in the market include transparent regulation, developed IT infrastructure, and a responsible approach to gambling. Another clear benefit is the lack of need for financial assistance, as well as a short period for considering an application.

The Casino Market studio offers services for the acquisition of a permit and legal support for the entertainment business. We will help you launch an iGaming startup in Georgia, Curacao, Lithuania, Estonia, Malta, and other countries where the placement of bets is allowed.

From us, it is also possible to order the following useful options:

• turnkey platforms;
• White Label projects;
• payment system integration;
• creation of HTML5 slots according to individual sketches;
• security software installation, and much more.

Buy in 1 click!

James Burton The Casino Market partner, the owner of the gambling establishments’ network

Have questions or want to order services?
Contact our consultants:

• e-mail: manager@casino-market.com
• Skype: support.casinosupermarket
• feedback form.