Georgia PM Irakli Garibashvili has implemented its calls for drastic restrictions on the online gambling industry to protect citizens and the economy.
In an update at the executive meeting, Garibashvili supported a new draft proposal recommending increasing the taxation of online gambling on an “overall tax base of the sector” by 65 to 70%.
The new measures of the Georgian Minister of Finance Lasha Khutsishvili, Georgia will also apply a +25 age limit for gambling services. A measure that could result in a total of 1 million people being excluded from gambling.
Under Khutsishvili’s new measures, vulnerable groups receiving government allowances, civil servants, individuals who have applied for self-restraint with the Inland Revenue Service of Georgia, and those who are “blacklisted ” stand .
Finally, with regard to gambling advertising, all television, outdoor and internet marketing of gambling will be banned across Georgia, although sponsorship agreements are still allowed, although it may be limited to a sporting context only.
The reform follows from Calls from Prime Minister Garibashvili last week for stricter enforcement of the Georgian betting and gambling industry, with the aforementioned Minister Khutsishvili being charged with drafting laws.
According to the original plans, the first phase of reform envisaged the introduction of a law to restrict advertising, the introduction of an age limit of 25 years and an increase in taxation, followed by measures to “ban online casino operations”.
“As promised, we are actively working and the Minister of Health will propose regulations for the pharmaceutical market,” noted Garibashvili.
“The legislative initiative will be presented to the Georgian parliament as a draft law. That is our wish and of course we are committed to working intensively with the legislature on this topic. “
The Prime Minister’s rationale for restricting online gambling in Georgia revolves around a civil and economic duty to protect the general public in the country.
