Georgian LEPL Revenue Service License

The Role and Responsibilities of the Regulator

In Georgia, the main authority regulating gambling is the LEPL Revenue Service under the Ministry of Finance. It is responsible for licensing, operator supervision, financial transparency, and the protection of player interests. Gambling was legalised in the 1990s, and a modern legislative framework has been in place since 2005.

Over the past 15 years, the market has grown by 108,000%, and in 2025 the turnover of casinos and betting is projected to exceed $200 million in the online segment alone. Today, hundreds of licensed operators officially conduct their business in the country, including casinos, bookmakers, slot operators, online gaming platforms, bingo, and lotteries, all of which are subject to strict regulation and oversight.

Licensing Procedure and Requirements

The license is available for both land-based casinos and online platforms. The application process includes:

• Registering the company in Georgia (available to foreign individuals and legal entities)
• Submitting an application to the Ministry of Finance
• Verifying the sources of capital, ownership structure, and the absence of a criminal record
• Certifying the platform and software, including mandatory integration with the state RTP monitoring system, with a minimum RTP of 90%
• Connecting to the national online tax reporting system
• Providing detailed information on the game portfolio, payout rules, personal data processing, and server locations
• Obtaining a digital RSI certificate, which grants access to the monitoring infrastructure
• Opening a corporate bank account and registering with the tax authorities

To speed up the review process, the option of a paid expedited service is available: 1 day — $700, 5 days — $280, 10 days — $140, while the standard 20-day review is free of charge. Licenses are issued for periods of one to five years and are subject to renewal. As of 2024, the market included around 250 active online operators and 42 major land-based casinos.

Requirements and Restrictions for Operators

Georgia is one of the region’s strictest gambling jurisdictions. The minimum age for gambling is 25, while foreign citizens are allowed to play from the age of 18. Operators must apply full KYC procedures, including customer data collection, verification, and mandatory digital identification for all users, regardless of whether games are offered online or offline. Every licensed company is connected to the state monitoring system, which tracks revenues in real time and enables comprehensive tax control over all transactions.

Regulatory limits were tightened further in 2024. Maximum wagers in online casinos are now governed by responsible gambling rules, and authorities may temporarily lower limits when necessary. Gambling advertising is closely regulated: aggressive promotions, demonstration of “real” winnings, the use of child-related imagery, and promises of “instant success” are strictly prohibited.

Regulators conduct systematic inspections, with up to 150 audits each year. Breaches of the rules can result in fines of up to 500,000 GEL, or around $180,000. At the same time, leading members of the market continue to invest in infrastructure — in 2023 alone, operators spent $16.7 million on platform upgrades and modernisation.

Player Protection, Social Responsibility and Self-Exclusion

The Georgian model includes a state-run self-exclusion system, similar to the European EPIS system. In 2025, the number of player applications exceeded 30,000. Of these, 99% were voluntary requests, while 40 were imposed by court order or at the request of relatives. The system allows individuals to restrict their access for up to five years. Thanks to biometric identification, the process has been made as simple as possible, with online applications taking just two to three minutes.

Operators are required to integrate support hotlines, self-exclusion and restriction tools, including temporary restrictions, as well as educational materials on gambling addiction prevention. Over the past two years, the number of consultation requests has doubled, while funding for responsible gambling initiatives has increased by 35%. The law also presents the possibility of family-initiated exclusion, allowing a relative to request restrictions through court.

Legal Reforms and Digital Innovation

Georgia is actively reforming its gambling sector. In 2024, preferential tax rules were introduced for companies targeting foreign players. Local operators can renew their licenses free of charge when relocating their business to new hotels with more than 100 rooms, while investors benefit from reduced VAT and excise taxes.

Mandatory requirements now include a minimum RTP of 90%, API-based integration with the tax authorities, an online revenue monitoring system, and biometric KYC and AML tools for anti-money laundering compliance. In 2025, the number of active users in the gambling sector is expected to reach 364,000, further strengthening transparency and raising regulatory standards across the industry.

Conclusion

The Georgian gambling license represents a unique combination of strict legal oversight, technological sophistication, and social responsibility. The regulated gambling market is growing dynamically, and the state’s approach to oversight and player protection is widely regarded as one of the most advanced in the region. Through strong support for responsible gambling, Georgia has become a model of effective gambling regulation across the CIS and Eastern Europe.