Georgia Launches International iGaming Licensing Regime

Georgia has completed the infrastructure for the wider rollout of its international iGaming licensing regime, targeting online casino and sportsbook operators serving customers outside the country.

The framework was introduced into Georgian law in July 2026 following parliamentary approval in June. A soft launch took place during the summer, with the government-backed structure now being promoted internationally to prospective operators. 

The regime covers online casino games, slots and sports betting. Georgian citizens are prohibited from gambling on platforms operating under the international licence, separating the framework from the country's domestic gambling market. 

Five-Year Licences Carry a 5% GGR Tax

International permits are issued for five years, with operators paying a 5% tax on gross gaming revenue.

A further 1% regulatory monitoring charge applies, taking the revenue-based cost to 6%. The framework also includes an annual permit fee of GEL100,000 per category, approximately $36,000 at the rates used in the programme's published materials. 

Georgia applies its existing corporate tax model to licensed businesses. Reinvested profits are not subject to corporate income tax, while distributed profits are taxed.

Operators do not need to establish a physical casino or maintain a mandatory office or staffing presence in the country to qualify for the international permit. However, the licence must be held by an entrepreneur registered in Georgia. 

Each international permit covers one website operating under a single domain. The legislation also allows international permits to be issued without an underlying land-based casino or betting permit. 

Georgia Links Licensing With Banking and Payments

The licensing proposition extends beyond regulatory approval.

Operators entering the framework are being offered access to Georgian corporate banking services and gambling-coded payment processing using MCC 7995, the merchant category code used for betting and casino transactions.

Georgia International Strategic Group, or GISG, says the model is designed to integrate licensing, banking, payments, taxation and regulatory monitoring rather than requiring operators to arrange those services separately.

GISG has been promoting the framework internationally since September. It acts as the authorised representative for international operators under the programme through Random Systems Georgia, which is involved in the country's gambling monitoring infrastructure. 

Georgia Targets International Operators

The new regime is designed exclusively for gambling activity outside Georgia.

Officials and organisations involved in the programme have identified the CIS, Central Asia and other developing markets among the regions where Georgia believes its location and existing iGaming technology sector could make the licence attractive.

Tbilisi already hosts operations connected to major gambling suppliers and operators, including software development, live casino production and customer support. The government-backed initiative is intended to add licensing and financial infrastructure to that existing industry base. 

A Georgian licence does not itself give an operator unrestricted access to every foreign market. Operators remain responsible for complying with local gambling laws in each jurisdiction where they accept customers.

Georgia is expected to announce additional terms for international operators in October 2026. The next test for the framework will be whether the combination of licensing, taxation, banking and payment access can attract operators at commercial scale.