TLDR The Georgian Gambling Association says unlicensed gambling operators make over $742 million (GEL 2 billion) per year in the country Proposed fine increases would raise casino operator penalties from $2,600 to $7,400, with similar hikes across other license categories The GGA argues higher fines unfairly target licensed operators instead of addressing illegal and offshore platforms Georgian authorities disagree with the industry’s estimate and say enforcement against illegal activity is already underway The industry group is calling for government cooperation to shut down unregulated platforms rather than penalizing compliant businesses
The Georgian Gambling Association has raised concerns about the scale of unlicensed gambling in the country. The industry group estimates that illegal operators generate more than $742 million every year.
That figure, equivalent to roughly GEL 2 billion, represents money the GGA says is being lost from the regulated market. The association warns that much of it flows to offshore and unregulated platforms outside government oversight.
The warning comes as Georgian lawmakers consider raising fines for licensed gambling operators. The GGA says these proposed penalties would hurt companies already following the rules.
Under the proposed changes, fines for casino operators would jump from about $2,600 to $7,400. That is nearly a threefold increase.
Penalties for gambling club license holders and operators of prize games would rise from roughly $740 to $3,700. Slot machine salon operators would see fines go from about $370 to $3,700.
Proposed Fines Draw Industry Pushback
Operators offering casino, slot machine, and totalizer products in electronic or system-based formats would face the same higher penalty levels as traditional casinos.
The GGA has called these measures poorly targeted. It argues the fines focus on businesses that are already licensed and visible to regulators.
The group also says many licensing violations in the legal market stem