Georgia Passes Law Letting Casinos Host International Gambling Tournaments, With Tax Breaks

Georgia's Parliament passed a law on 28 October 2026 that lets casinos organize international gambling tournaments, approving the bill in its final reading by 73 votes to 5 and attaching fee and tax exemptions to high-value prize pools.

The bill was introduced by lawmakers from the ruling Georgian Dream party and moved through Parliament on a fast track. Georgian outlets including Netgazeti and Geotimes describe the changes as amendments to the Law on Lotteries, Gambling and Prize Games. The second and third readings were held at the 28 October plenary, after the bill had cleared its first reading earlier.

What counts as an international gambling tournament

The law defines the event as a tournament organized by a casino, with a prize pool the organizer guarantees in advance. At least 80% of participants must be foreign nationals. During debate, lawmakers raised that minimum from 70%, according to Georgia Today.

Organizers may earn revenue from the tournaments. Despite the casino framing, the events may be held at licensed casino venues or at other locations, which widens the range of possible host sites beyond gaming floors.

Fee and tax treatment

The incentives are tied to a single threshold: a prize pool above GEL 3 million (Georgian lari).

The structure favors large, internationally marketed events: both the fee exemption for organizers and the winnings exemption for foreign players depend on the GEL 3 million prize pool.

Gamingo's earlier reporting on Georgia's new tax regime for online gambling shows how the country has used tax design to shape its gambling market. The tournament exemptions apply to a different activity, live events run by casinos.

Opposition and the fast-tracking dispute

The bill drew criticism from the Georgian Orthodox Patriarchate and from the Public Defender, Georgia's ombudsman. The Patriarchate was due to discuss the bill on 30 October, according to Georgia Today. The For Georgia faction did not support the bill.

Dissent also came from within the majority camp. During the second reading, Eka Sepashvili of People's Power, which is aligned with the governing majority, questioned the speed of the process. She said the explanatory note did not assess the social costs of the measure.

The removal of the GEL 150,000 penalty on unauthorized organizers was among the changes made during the debate. The GEL 50,000 licensing-violation fine remains.

What it means for operators and organizers

Casino operators with licensed venues in Georgia are the most direct beneficiaries, since the law places organization of these tournaments with casinos. Tournament producers considering Georgian dates will need to plan around three variables: a guaranteed prize pool, the 80% foreign-participant share, and the GEL 3 million line that triggers the exemptions.

The foreign-participant requirement is a statutory condition rather than a marketing target, which matters for payment processors and affiliates serving international players. Georgia has been repositioning its gambling framework for some time; Gamingo's piece on how a new Georgian gambling license could turn the country into the next Malta covers that wider ambition.

Other markets in the region have adjusted gambling taxation in recent years. Armenia moved on its own rules in 2024, as covered in Armenian Parliament approves new gambling tax amendments, and Cyprus raised its betting levy in Cyprus Parliament approves betting levy increase. Georgia's measure differs by cutting charges for a defined event type instead of raising them.

Status reviewed on 30 October 2026. Figures and vote details come from Georgia Today and Georgian outlets reporting on the 28 October plenary. More legislation news and EMEA coverage.