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Georgia’s International iGaming Licence: A Comprehensive Guide to the New Framework

By jili tutorial · September 29, 2026

Georgia’s International iGaming Licence: A Comprehensive Guide to the New Framework

Executive Summary

After months of careful planning and legislative groundwork, the country of Georgia believes it has established the optimal foundation to serve the next generation of international iGaming businesses—both those expanding within existing markets and those entering new geographies. This bold statement comes from Random Systems Georgia (RSG), the entity selected by the Government of Georgia to act as the official regulator of gambling within the country. Beyond its regulatory role, RSG also serves as a technology and policy advisor to the government, and it now fulfills the mandate to fully launch an International iGaming Licence regime.

According to information provided to SBC, Georgia’s approach goes far beyond simply licensing iGaming operators. The country has developed what it describes as a multi-dimensional ecosystem that integrates iGaming with all essential components of the value chain—from banking and fintech solutions to compliance services and business process outsourcing (BPO). This guide breaks down the framework, its strategic significance, and what it means for operators worldwide.

1. The Genesis of Georgia’s iGaming Ambition

The Soft Launch and Legislative Foundation

The International iGaming Licence regime was soft-launched in July 2026. This framework was developed by Random Systems to align the requirements of multiple stakeholders under a unified governance system. These stakeholders include:

The Vision Announced at SBC Summit Tbilisi

The project’s ambitions were formally set out at the SBC Summit Tbilisi held on 15–16 July 2026. At this event, Vakhtang Katamadze, a Supervisory Board Member of Random Systems, discussed Georgia’s plans with the media and gaming entrepreneur Nika Gigashvili of SMH Holdings.

In the lead-up to the summit, the Georgian Parliament had already accepted legislation establishing permits for the international provision of:

Important Note: Georgian citizens are expressly excluded from participation under this international framework. The regime is designed exclusively for non-Georgian markets.

2. Why Georgia? The Strategic Context

The Existing Infrastructure Advantage

The timing of this launch is far from coincidental. Tbilisi, the capital, already serves as a thriving hub for the global gambling industry, hosting:

The city functions as the operations and product development home for leading iGaming technology giants, including:

CompanyPrimary Focus
SpribeGame development (e.g., Aviator)
SmartSoftCasino games and gamification
Evolution GamingLive casino solutions
FlutterMulti-brand gambling group
EntainSports betting and gaming
BetssonOnline gambling operator

The Gap Georgia Seeks to Fill

Despite this substantial presence, much of the licensing and financial infrastructure on which these businesses depend has remained located elsewhere—typically in jurisdictions like Malta, Gibraltar, or the Isle of Man. Georgia’s goal is to capture a larger share of the economic value created by an industry that already has a significant footprint on its soil.

As Mr. Katamadze explained to SBC:

“We believe the foundations are already in place. Now it is time to demonstrate that Georgia can offer the regulatory certainty and institutional confidence international businesses expect.”

3. The International Promotion: GISG Takes the Lead

The Launch of Georgia International Strategic Group

Two months after the initial soft launch, the question has shifted from what Georgia intends to build to whether operators will actually use it. To answer that question, the Georgia International Strategic Group (GISG) has been actively promoting the framework internationally since September 2026.

What the Licence Offers

The GISG’s offer combines several key components designed to make the jurisdiction immediately attractive:

  1. A five-year licence — providing long-term regulatory certainty
  2. Access to Georgian corporate banking — facilitating smooth financial operations
  3. Payment processing for gambling-coded transactions — using MCC (Merchant Category Code) 7995, the standard code for gambling transactions

4. The Ecosystem Philosophy: Beyond Licensing

A Country-Level Ecosystem

The core philosophy behind Georgia’s approach is articulated clearly in Mr. Katamadze’s statement:

“Georgia is not building another licensing jurisdiction. We are building a country-level ecosystem for international iGaming. Our approach is simple: if a serious operator chooses Georgia, the system should help that operator succeed. Licensing, banking, payments, taxation, regulation and operational support must work together.”

Removing Infrastructure Burden

The central promise is that operators should be able to focus on their core business activities, rather than constantly solving infrastructure problems. The Georgian system aims to provide:

How the Ecosystem Works in Practice

For an operator considering Georgia, the ecosystem approach means a single point of contact for multiple needs:

NeedGeorgian Solution
Legal operationInternational iGaming Licence (5 years, renewable)
BankingGeorgian corporate banking access
Payment processingMCC 7995 gambling-coded transactions facilitated
Tax complianceTransparent, simplified tax structure (see Section 6)
Ongoing regulationRSG as the dedicated national regulator
Operational supportExisting BPO, studio, and tech infrastructure in Tbilisi

This integrated approach stands in contrast to more fragmented jurisdictions, where an operator must independently source banking, acquire a licence, find a payment provider, and manage compliance—often across multiple countries.

5. Geographic Positioning: The Bridge Between Markets

The Opportunity Beyond Traditional Hubs

Georgia’s pitch is shaped by geography as much as by infrastructure. While Malta and Gibraltar have long served as established hubs for iGaming businesses, Georgia positions itself as the natural home for enterprises looking toward:

A Meeting Point of Worlds

Mr. Katamadze emphasized that Georgia is not seeking direct competition with the traditional jurisdictions:

“We are not competing with anyone. We are building for what comes next: operators from the West, tired of taxes and bureaucracy; Asia, looking for clear rules of the game; and the CIS and Central Asia right next door. None of them have a natural home today. Georgia is where these worlds meet — the technology is already here, now the license and the payments are too.”

How an Operator Based in Georgia Reaches These Markets

For a hypothetical operator targeting both the EU and Central Asian markets, the Georgian location provides several concrete advantages:

Georgia’s location at the intersection of Europe and Asia means that a single operations hub can serve markets on both continents without requiring complex multi-site infrastructure.

6. The Financial Proposition: Taxes and Fees

The Published Terms

The GISG believes the framework already offers some of the most competitive terms available in the industry. The published financial terms include:

Cost ItemRate / Amount
Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) tax5%
Tax on reinvested profits0%
Regulatory monitoring fee1%
Annual permit feeDisclosed on application

The Promised Next Upgrade

Mr. Katamadze hinted that the framework is still evolving:

“We’re not done yet. 5% on gross gaming revenue. 0% on any reinvested profits. Remote onboarding. No mandatory office required. Georgia is working on the next upgrade, in the operator’s favor… that we will announce in October.”

What This Means in Practice

For a comparative perspective, the 5% GGR rate is significantly lower than many established European jurisdictions, which typically range from 15% to 30%. The 0% tax on reinvested profits is a particularly notable feature, designed to encourage operators to keep and reinvest their earnings within the Georgian ecosystem. This is deliberately aligned with the overall goal of developing a comprehensive iGaming hub, rather than simply collecting licence fees.

The Dual Revenue Structure Explained

It is worth clarifying the relationship between the GGR tax and the regulatory monitoring fee:

Operators should budget for both, but the combined effective rate remains highly competitive by international standards.

7. Balancing Regulation and Growth

The Separation of Domestic and International Markets

A key feature of the Georgian approach is its explicit separation between the international regime and the domestic gambling market. This ensures that:

Building Trust Through Practice

While an attractive licence can be created by law, the GISG and RSG acknowledge that confidence must be earned through supervision, reliable banking, and a track record of operators committing to the jurisdiction. The government has launched the framework; the next task is to demonstrate that the environment and capacity described in Tbilisi can function at international scale.

In the words of the GISG:

“Trust is not written into law it is earned in practice. Georgia is earning it now: banks are onboarding operators, the regulator answers in days, the first licensees are preparing to go live. We are not asking the industry to take our word for it. We invite every serious operator to come and see the system working for themselves.”

8. What This Means for Operators

Key Considerations Before Applying

Operators evaluating the Georgian framework should weigh several factors:

Advantages:

Considerations to evaluate:

The Application Process

Full details of the licensing process, including application fees and documentation requirements, are disclosed on the GISG website. GISG serves as the exclusive authorised representative for licensing of international iGaming operators under Georgia’s new framework. Operators should therefore initiate all applications through GISG rather than directly through Georgian ministries or RSG.

9. The Road Ahead: A Timeline to Watch

Key Milestones So Far

What to Observe Next

Observers of the Georgian iGaming market should track:

  1. The first licence issuances — Which operators commit first, and where are they headquartered?
  2. Banking reliability — Do Georgian banks execute on their promised onboarding and transaction-processing commitments?
  3. The October announcement — What further incentives or flexibilities will be introduced?
  4. Licence usage in the CIS and Central Asia — Will operators targeting these regions actually relocate their licensing and payments to Georgia?

10. Conclusion: A New Chapter or a New Hub?

Georgia has launched an ambitious framework that aims to capture a greater share of the global iGaming value chain. The country is not trying to compete directly with Malta or Gibraltar for the same operators; rather, it is positioning itself as the natural home for businesses targeting the CIS, Central Asia, and other emerging markets—serviced by a fully integrated ecosystem that combines licensing, banking, payments, and technology.

The commercial promise is broader than a low tax rate. Georgia wants operators to see licensing, banking, and payments as parts of one unified system, supported by a regulatory environment that responds quickly and a business ecosystem that is already home to many of the industry’s leading technology firms.

The framework is launched. The terms have been published. Now, the only question is whether international operators will commit—and whether Georgia can demonstrate, in practice, that its confidence is well placed.

For operators seeking an alternative to legacy hubs, with competitive tax terms and a foothold in the CIS and Central Asian markets, the Georgian International iGaming Licence represents one of the most significant new options to emerge in recent years.

The full programme for Georgia’s international iGaming Licence framework, including its licensing process, fees, and tax structure, is disclosed on the GISG website.