The Georgian government has submitted a bill to parliament that significantly increases fines for companies operating in the gambling sector. The changes will affect both offline casinos and gaming halls, as well as online gambling operators, including requirements for customer identification and compliance with licensing conditions.

Special attention is paid to the protection of minors and restricted categories of citizens. The country maintains a ban on participation in gambling for individuals under 25, civil servants, and citizens included in special lists. According to the Ministry of Finance, current fines do not provide a sufficient deterrent effect, and for some operators, it is more economically beneficial to violate rules and simply pay the penalties.

According to the draft, fines will significantly increase: for license holders — from 7,000 to 20,000 GEL, for gaming halls — from 1,000 to 10,000 GEL, and for gambling clubs — from 2,000 to 10,000 GEL. Sanctions for organizers of casinos and electronic gaming systems will also rise to 20,000 GEL. Authorities note that the number of violations is growing, despite increasing budget revenues from fines, and the new measure should change market behavior.