Fines for non-compliance with permit conditions in the gambling sector are set to increase. The relevant amendments have been introduced to the Law on Lotteries, Gambling and Profitable Games and were presented at today’s session of the Bureau of the Parliament of Georgia.

According to the draft law, penalties for license holders will be significantly raised. The fine for casino operators will increase from 7,000 GEL to 20,000 GEL. For slot machine halls, the fine will rise from 1,000 GEL to 10,000 GEL, while gambling clubs will also face fines of 10,000 GEL instead of 2,000 GEL. Operators of gambling and profit-based games will similarly be fined 10,000 GEL instead of 2,000 GEL. In addition, fines for organizers of lotteries, slot machine games, and totalizator games in electronic format will increase from 7,000 GEL to 20,000 GEL.

The explanatory note to the draft law states that the current level of fines is not sufficiently deterrent and does not ensure effective risk prevention. It argues that, in some cases, it is economically more beneficial for operators to violate permit conditions and pay the fine rather than comply with regulatory requirements.

Accordingly, the purpose of the amendments is to strengthen regulatory enforcement in the gambling sector, increase legal liability, and enhance consumer protection.