Obtaining a Gambling Licence in Georgia: Detailed Guidance

Experts of the Smart Money studio explain how to launch a successful online casino startup in the Georgian territory. You will learn why it is a good decision, what documents to prepare, and which nuances are extremely important when opening an entertainment project.

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History of the Gambling Market

The first mentions of the industry in the country date back as far as 1921. One of the oldest establishments of this type is located in the city of Sighnaghi.

Land-based locations were legitimised in 1990, a year before the state gained independence. Most of them worked on the premises of large hotels and were focused on foreign tourists.

Casino licensing in Georgia became possible in 2005 when the authorities adopted the first laws:

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

Besides, the Revenue Service was created. The department is still involved in the legalisation of entertainment sites.

In the 2010s, the casino and sportsbook industry grew significantly. International hotel chains (Hilton, Marriott International, and InterContinental) appeared in the country and opened halls with slot machines and card tables.

Large complexes were built in many coastal cities, including the famous resort of Batumi. The growth of demand was provided by tourists from Turkey where betting is prohibited by law.

The launch of online casinos with a Georgian licence was available only to those who had previously received permission to own an offline location. Nevertheless, the iGaming sector was developing rapidly.

This was affected by several factors:

• the adoption of mobile technologies;
• the rapid spread of smartphones;
• the need to play comfortably and without leaving home.

In 2013, the share of the country’s state budget attributable to entertainment for money was only 1.4%. In 2018, this figure reached 7.8%, which confirms the importance of gambling for the local economy.

About 3 years ago, the government started to gradually adapt the legislation in accordance with market challenges by performing the following tasks:

• introduction of responsible gambling measures;
• age limit increase;
• transformation of the tax system;
• separation of real locations and virtual platforms.

How the Industry Works

A gaming licence in Georgia is issued for each type of activity. The region allows betting (on sports, fantasy disciplines, and cyber competitions) and lottery draws, as well as the implementation of offline and digital projects.

Land-Based Niche

There are 5 types of establishments in the jurisdiction:

• casinos;
• halls with slot machines;
• sweepstakes;
• bonus lotteries;
• bingo locations.

The third category is considered the largest. At the beginning of 2024, more than 120 points in different parts of the country were registered.

Halls with slots contain only stationary machines. There also are card tables and a roulette wheel.

Offline establishments in the state are part of a huge tourism sector with billions in turnover and stable support from the state. The resort town of Batumi is often called the “Black Sea Las Vegas” due to its well-developed infrastructure and various casino complexes.

70% of visitors are tourists from Turkey. Many hotels even hang Turkish flags on the facades of their buildings, thus attracting foreign guests.

The Georgian gambling licence for the offline niche is valid for 5 years. A permit must be received for each type of activity. To do this, it is necessary to previously send a package of documents to the Revenue Service.

According to the results of 2023, $330.2 million was attracted to the state budget in the form of taxes, fees, duties, and other deductions. This is 20% more than the year before that. The funds were mainly received thanks to the work of the offline sector.

iGaming Vertical

In 2024, the authorities announced a large-scale reorganisation of the market.

Entrepreneurs can open licensed online casinos in Georgia without first obtaining a permit for a land-based club. The change has significantly simplified doing business and attracted major investors.

The jurisdiction allows digital projects in such formats as:

• entertainment sites;
• betting platforms;
• raffles.

To get started, entrepreneurs need to register a legal entity. This can be done by both the country’s citizens and foreigners. After opening a company, it is necessary to contact the Ministry of Justice and request a special extract.

A gambling licence in Georgia is issued after preliminary testing of digital portals. Operators must also confirm the availability of certificates for games, settlement methods, and programs for calculating the bookmakers’ quotes.

Business owners must be connected to the state online monitoring system to check:

• the correctness and completeness of tax payments;
• compliance with the legal norms for returning money to the gambler (the RTP indicator must not be less than 90%).

That is why, before obtaining a casino licence in Georgia, applicants issue an RSI certificate. This is an individual access code. The digital key can be received by both the CEO and his authorised representative (for example, the general manager or head of the department).

An important step is opening a bank account and registering with the tax service. This must be done within a month after the creation of a legal entity.

How Much Does a Casino Licence Cost in Georgia

At the start, entrepreneurs have enormous expenditures associated with obtaining a permit, as well as launching and promoting an entertainment portal. The final price depends on the type of activity, the software and equipment used, the location of the premises, and other factors.

Land-Based Establishments

Most casinos and halls with slot machines are opened in well-known hotels. Owners of betting shops, bingo, and lotteries rent a space in places with good traffic and next to large leisure complexes.

Let us consider how much the Georgian casino licence costs and what it consists of:

• annual fee (from $37.1 thousand to $1.8 million);
• quarterly deductions for each card and roulette table located in the hall ($7.4 thousand–$14.8 thousand);
• payment for a unit of equipment (slot machine, video attraction, or stock exchange terminal) every 3 months is usually from $742 to $1.5 thousand.

The fees vary depending on the region. The highest rates are provided in the capital, Tbilisi, and the municipality of Akhaltsikhe. Gaming establishments located in Kazbegi, Tskaltubo, Sighnaghi, Bakuriani, and Gudauri are exempt from taxes.

Those entrepreneurs who want to buy a casino licence in Georgia must have enough funds to purchase factory equipment (monitors, consoles, gaming cabinets and terminals, as well as video surveillance systems), high-quality furniture, and reliable software.

It will cost less to launch a lottery or bingo hall. For example, the annual fee for holders of this kind of permit is $5.5 thousand. Organisers of raffles also transfer 10% of the difference between the total price of tickets sold and the sum of money paid to the winners.

Internet Sector

The Georgian casino certificate will cost $1.7 million per 12 months. The document is valid for 5 years.

Operators make quarterly financial transactions for managing the digital entertainment platform. The size of fees varies between $92.7 and $111.3 thousand. The exact amount is determined by the Revenue Service after an individual consultation with an operator and verification of all provided documents.

Business owners must prepare:

• company registration data;
• a receipt for payment of annual deductions;
• a list of program components used (games, settlement methods, CRM systems, and security software);
• a certificate of non-conviction;
• a document that confirms the acquisition of an RSI certificate;
• a business plan.

One of the advantages of launching a turnkey casino with a Georgian licence is the absence of an initial insurance premium. For example, most European jurisdictions require entrepreneurs to have a bank guarantee. The money is accumulated in a special account and used in case of force majeure (bankruptcy or payment of large jackpots).

Compliance with this requirement allows operators to save $50–70 thousand at the very start of the project. Such funds can be redirected to marketing purposes, improvement of working conditions for staff, and implementation of related business ideas.

Focus on Responsible Gambling

Local authorities actively support the casino and sportsbook sector. At the same time, they promote a fair and transparent environment with a reasonable approach to the placement of bets and the protection of socially vulnerable individuals.

In July 2024, new market conditions were adopted:

• higher age criterion (from 21 to 25 years);
• ban on playing for low-income citizens and those who receive state aid or work in the government;
• verification of the identity of gamblers in several stages (multi-factor authentication);
• launch of an online registry of self-excluded persons;
• finalisation of data on clients who are prohibited from placing bids based on a request from a family member or by court order.

The government also limited the advertising of casino brands on radio, TV, and the Internet. Sponsorship remains the only legal method of promotion.

The innovations make the niche transparent and safe and forbid uncontrolled marketing and gambling for minors. Thanks to this, a casino licence in Georgia becomes a sign of stable work and a responsible approach.

The following leading laboratories are accredited in the country:

• eCOGRA;
• BMM TestLab;
• QUINEL.

They monitor the quality of the software and equipment used by operators. Therefore, any fraud with the results or acceptance of bids from socially vulnerable individuals is even theoretically impossible.

How to Obtain a Casino Licence in Georgia

The Smart Money studio provides comprehensive support services for the gambling business. We help with company registration, document preparation, and acquisition of the necessary permits. Our specialists are well-acquainted with the nuances of working in various European jurisdictions.

Benefits of launching an iGaming startup in Georgia:

1. Developing economy. The country demonstrates one of the highest GDP growth rates in the region. Favourable geographic location and a strong labour market attract multimillion-dollar investments in many sectors, including casino entertainment.
2. Low competition. Obtaining certificates of this type became possible only in 2024. While many are just waiting, it is time to open and scale the business.
3. Quick receipt of the document. A Georgian gaming licence is issued within 20 days. If entrepreneurs want to speed up the consideration of the application, they need to make an additional contribution (from $148 to $742).
4. Reasonable price. The legislation does not require the formation of a financial guarantee. Thanks to this, operators save tens of thousands of dollars and can redirect these funds to the strategic development of their projects.
5. Loyal tax burden. Casino owners pay 20% of the GGR. This is the average value for most jurisdictions in the region.

The Main Things about Working in the Georgian Entertainment Niche

The country is quite promising in regard to launching gambling startups.

Key aspects that need to be taken into account:

• The advantages of working in the state include a stable regulatory framework, a developing economy, and a relatively low level of competition. The government refers favourably to casino enterprises because they generate huge budgetary revenues and create thousands of jobs.
• The industry is divided into offline and digital segments. A separate permit must be obtained for each type of activity. The document is valid for 5 years.
• The cost of licensing depends on the type of project and the municipality in which the company is registered. The authorities have provided annual and quarterly deductions.
• The country is characterised by a responsible approach to the placement of bets. It has the highest age limit in Europe, restrictions for underprivileged populations, and other socially vulnerable categories.

The Smart Money studio can help you quickly open a highly profitable business. We offer our clients the opportunity to open a turnkey online casino with a Georgian licence and a catalogue of certified slots, as well as reliable payment software and a universal CRM service for site management.

We also offer the following useful services:

• integration of top solutions;
• creation of HTML5 games based on individual sketches;
• preparation of a business plan;
• White Label platform connection;
• security software installation;
• promotion of ready-made projects, and much more.

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Hans Adrian

B2b Gambling Business Advisor & Strategist