Parliament approved a bill on international gambling tournaments

The Parliament of Georgia approved the legislative package "On Lotteries, Gambling and Profitable Games," which grants casinos the right to hold international gambling tournaments. According to the changes, no less than 80% of the tournament participants must be citizens of a foreign country. In the event that the prize fund exceeds 3,000,000 GEL, the organizer will be exempted from the gambling business fee. Radio Tavisupleba

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that the bill does not provide for substantial changes and he does not consider a broad discussion on this issue necessary. According to Kobakhidze, he was initially not informed about the initiative and noted that the bill has initiators and not lobbyists. Interpressnews+2

The Patriarchate of Georgia and the Public Defender expressed a critical position regarding the legislative changes. Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze stated that a broad discussion on the issue was not held, while the Public Defender called on the ruling team to refrain from adopting the bill. Radio Tavisupleba