Georgia to Unveil Export-Oriented iGaming Licensing Regime in August

Georgia will present an official international iGaming licensing regime in August 2026, government officials and policy advisers said at SBC Summit Tbilisi, held in the capital on 15–16 July. The plan is to turn the country into an export jurisdiction for gambling services, software and technology aimed at foreign markets rather than domestic players.

A licence for foreign markets only

Under the proposals, international online casino, sportsbook and gaming licences would be issued only to companies serving customers outside Georgia. Georgian consumers would stay outside the new regime, which officials say is designed to attract foreign capital, high-skilled jobs and export revenue without expanding domestic gambling participation.

International licence holders would pay a 5% tax on gross gaming revenue, well below the rate applied to operators serving Georgian consumers.

“Switzerland, not Malta”

Vakhtang Katamadze, a supervisory board member of RSG and a key policy stakeholder, told the summit that August would be Georgia's chance to present itself to the global industry “not simply as another licensing jurisdiction, but as a long-term investment destination”. “We do not want to become the Malta of iGaming; we want to become its Switzerland,” he said, arguing that operators no longer pick jurisdictions on tax alone — they weigh legal certainty, regulatory credibility and banking confidence.

An ecosystem already built in Tbilisi

The pitch rests on an industry that is already there: Flutter Entertainment, Betsson and Entain run significant technology and service centres in Tbilisi, alongside dozens of suppliers, software developers and live-gaming studios. Home-grown names include Spribe, SmartSoft, SMH Holdings and Adjara Group, and the sector is estimated to generate around 2–3% of Georgia's economic output.

The draft framework emphasises anti-money laundering controls, know-your-customer checks and transparent supervision. Katamadze said the real product on offer is confidence: “The licence is only part of what Georgia is offering. Every operator, supplier and financial institution must know that our AML controls, KYC procedures and supervisory standards meet the highest international expectations.”

The official regime is due to be published in August 2026. Success, Katamadze added, will be measured less by the number of licences issued than by whether the next generation of global gaming businesses chooses to build its headquarters, technology and investment in Georgia.