Georgia Proposes New Foreign Gambling Permits.

Georgia Proposes New Permits For Foreign-Facing Gambling Operators

Jul 3rd, 2026 Olga Li

Georgia’s parliament has begun fast-tracked consideration of a bill designed to issue dedicated five-year permits for online gambling operations targeting overseas players. The proposal introduces three new permit categories to the Law on the Organization of Lotteries, Gambling and Prize Games, covering online casinos, slots, and sports betting exclusively for foreign citizens, while strictly blocking Georgian residents from accessing the sites. By establishing these frameworks, local lawmakers intend to draw businesses that typically choose international markets, creating a dedicated ecosystem within the country.

Operators that serve players abroad have long based themselves in offshore licensing jurisdictions such as Curaçao or the Isle of Man. Under the draft legislation, each five-year permit will require an annual fee of GEL 100,000 (approximately €33,000). Gross gaming revenue derived from foreign players will be taxed at a modest 5% rate paid monthly, contrasting sharply with the 20% tax rate imposed on standard domestic online operations. Furthermore, the bill reduces the number of internet domains allowed under a single operator license from two to one, providing a transition period for current permit holders. Violations of these conditions or missed payment deadlines will result in fines of GEL 20,000.

Sponsors of the bill state that this competitive framework will attract foreign investment and generate jobs in software development, cybersecurity, and digital marketing. This initiative builds directly on Georgia’s 2024 offshore reforms, which heavily restricted domestic play while incentivizing the international sector. Previous amendments permitted separate local and international domains, set the 5% tax rate for foreign revenue, and exempted foreign winnings from withholding tax. Concurrently, the government implemented strict domestic controls, including a national gambling-exclusion register.

Officials also raised the legal gambling age for Georgian citizens to 25, and the registry automatically blocked access for both younger individuals and public-sector workers. While a standard domestic online casino permit costs GEL 5 million annually, these new foreign-only permits aim to establish a definitive boundary between the restricted domestic market and gambling treated as an export industry.