The Georgian government has taken a significant step by banning 40% of its population from gambling, following a comprehensive nationwide review leading to 1,577,247 individuals being added to the Exclusion Registry, meeting the target set by former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in a nation of 3.7m people.
Of the total excluded, only 36,000 people opted for self-exclusion due to gambling-related concerns, while 62 were added through court orders. The majority were registered online via the Revenue Service’s website and its Videocall.rs.ge platform.
Automatic exclusion applies to public sector employees and citizens with criminal records.
In 2025, the Georgian Revenue Service was tasked with overseeing gambling operators and maintaining the National Exclusion Registry, following amendments to the country’s gambling legislation. This followed a regulatory tightening in 2024 that raised the legal gambling age to 25.
Irakli Garibashvili, who initiated these changes, stepped down in 2024 and was succeeded by Irakli Kobakhidze from the ruling Georgian Dream Party. Kobakhidze has upheld the stringent approach, implementing biometric identification systems in gambling venues and introducing a new tax framework.
Under current regulations, gambling operators in Georgia are subject to a 15% tax on GGR. In addition, Georgian citizens face a 5% personal income tax on withdrawals. However, foreign players are exempt from these taxes, as the government views gambling primarily as an activity for international visitors, aiming to prevent harm to local citizens’ wellbeing and financial stability.
This extensive ban and regulatory approach reflect Georgia’s commitment to minimising gambling-related harm while maintaining a focus on economic benefits from international gaming tourism.
