TITLE: Georgia Increases Fines for Gambling Licensing Violations
BODY:
On April 14, 2026, the Georgian government submitted draft amendments to Parliament to tighten gambling regulations and substantially increase penalties for licensing violations under the law "On Arranging Lotteries, Gambling and Prize Games."
The proposed amendments significantly raise fines across all gambling operator categories. Casino operators will face fines increasing from 7,000 Georgian Lari (GEL) to 20,000 GEL, while slot machine salon operators will see penalties rise from 1,000 GEL to 10,000 GEL. Gambling club license holders and operators of gambling and prize games will experience fines increasing from 2,000 GEL to 10,000 GEL. Operators providing casino, slot machine and totalizator games in electronic or system-based formats will face fines rising from 7,000 GEL to 20,000 GEL.
The government stated that existing penalties have proven insufficient as deterrents and fail to ensure proper compliance with licensing requirements. In its explanatory note, the government noted that "in many cases, it is economically more beneficial for a license holder to violate the licensing conditions and then pay the fine, rather than fully comply with the established requirements." The amendments aim to address this compliance gap by making violations economically disadvantageous.
The Ministry of Finance prepared the draft amendments. Parliament is expected to review the proposals in the coming weeks. The effective date of any amendments will depend on Parliament's approval and subsequent legislative procedures.