Tag Archives: georgia

Over 1.45m citizens of Georgia have been banned from gambling under a series of strict reforms introduced by the government this month.  The figure was disclosed by Lasha Khutsishvili, Minister of Finance of the Caucasus nation, in an update to government on market developments. 2022 saw PM Irakli Garibashvili approve a new decree which prohibited individuals under 25, socially vulnerable …

The Republic of Georgia continues to tighten its national gambling laws, announcing new measures on licensing and taxation.  This week, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili approved new measures to ring-fence online casino licences, which can only be operated by land-based casinos based in Georgia. The decision could see online casino licences limited to the Georgian-domiciled businesses of Adjara Group, Crystalbet and …

Further troubles loom in the CIS region as Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan, has withdrawn his support for a decree to establish a national framework legalising betting activities.    Last week, local media reported that Mirziyoyev would no longer back plans for Uzbekistan to launch its first legislative framework establishing federal laws for ‘sportsbook and sweepstake’ services. Back in December 2019, …

As Western governments impose financial sanctions against Russia following its illegal invasion of Ukraine. Regulus Partners outlines far-reaching repercussions for a globalised gambling sector.  Ukraine has a thriving gambling industry, a first-rate gambling services sector, a highly educated population, and relatively transparent governance. Until the last few weeks, it was therefore an attractive country to operate from and in, regulatory …

PokerStars has notified players and media partners in Georgia, that it will terminate its online gambling services for the CIS nation on 1 March 2022.  The flagship poker subsidiary of Flutter Entertainment, PokerStars has contacted Georgian players informing them to withdraw all account balances by the end of February. In its closing statement, PokerStars outlined that it would honour “customer …

Regulus Partners warns that early 2022 regulatory developments have set a dangerous precedent on the future of gambling advertising. Despite visible flaws across multiple jurisdictions, operators should defend their right to advertise rather than face the dire consequences of caving into regulatory appeasement… The New Year has opened with a number of threatened or delivered changes to gambling advertising. Gambling …

Irakli Gharibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia, has declared that the government will enforce the toughest online casino protections of all Eastern European states.  Yesterday, Gharibashvili instructed the government to adopt a ‘two-phase approach’ to reform Georgia’s gambling laws, enforcing stringent protections that will mirror a near ‘prohibition status’ for online casino. Lasha Khutsishvili Georgia’s Minister of Finance has been instructed …

SBC localises in CIS region in partnership with Sports Media Holding. Betting and iGaming industry events and media company SBC is to make a big investment into the burgeoning CIS market by striking a new partnership with Sports Media Holding (SMH).  After a successful collaboration on the SBC Digital Summit CIS last October, the two organisations are to join forces …

The huge potential of the betting and gaming markets in Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Georgia is set to be a central theme of SBC Digital Summit CIS on 4 – 5 November. The virtual conference and exhibition comes as many operators are seeking new opportunities away from the fierce competition in Europe’s established regulated markets, while at the same time some …