The Patriarchate responds to the legislative initiative regarding casinos

The Parliament of Georgia is considering a legislative package under an expedited procedure that allows casinos the opportunity to organize international gambling tournaments. According to one of the bill's initiators, Shota Berekashvili, an international gambling tournament is not a game of chance in the direct sense, and its goal is to promote the development of the tourism sector during non-tourist seasons. Publika+1

The head of the Patriarchate's Public Relations Service, Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze, states that the initiative was unexpected for the Patriarchate because no prior communication had taken place with them. According to Jagmaidze, the Patriarchate cannot remain on the sidelines of this process. The Archpriest also noted that he shares the position of the Public Defender, who calls on Parliament to refrain from adopting the bill. Publika+5

There is conflicting information in the sources regarding what percentage of foreign citizens must be represented at the tournament: according to Publika, no less than 80% of participants must be foreign citizens, while according to Interpressnews, this figure is 70%. According to the bill, if the tournament's prize fund exceeds 3 million GEL, the organizer will not pay the gambling business fee. The fine for violating licensing conditions is set at 50,000 GEL, and in the case of a tournament being organized by an unauthorized person, it is set at 150,000 GEL. Publika+1