---
title: "Starting a Gambling Business in Georgia — Complete Legal Guide"
url: "https://legal.ge/en/service/media-entertainment-and-sports-law-en/starting-a-gambling-business-in-georgia-complete-legal-guide-en"
field: "Media, Entertainment & Sports Law"
description: "Starting a gambling business in Georgia: permit categories, 5-year and 1-year terms, restrictions and the casino safe rule under the law. Legal.ge."
updated: "2026-10-15"
publisher: "legal.ge"
---

# Starting a Gambling Business in Georgia — Complete Legal Guide

> Source: legal.ge, https://legal.ge/en/service/media-entertainment-and-sports-law-en/starting-a-gambling-business-in-georgia-complete-legal-guide-en

## Legal Foundations of the Gambling Business in Georgia

In Georgia, the organization and conduct of lotteries, gambling and profitable games, as well as the supply of gambling and/or profitable games, is regulated by the Law of Georgia on Organizing Lotteries, Gambling and Profitable Games. The first article of this law states directly that it establishes the legal foundations of this activity, which means that any project in the gambling business must be planned within the framework of these norms. The law determines which games are admissible at all, where they may be organized, which activities require a permit, and who may obtain that permit.

If you are planning to open a casino, a slot machine hall, a gambling club, a totalizator, a lottery, or to organize games in a systemic-electronic form, this guide explains the conceptual apparatus of the sector, why a permit is an unconditional precondition, for what terms and to whom permits are issued, and which restrictions apply to the permit holder. We rely exclusively on the exact text of the law as reflected in its consolidated edition, without replacing legal norms with assumptions.

The full text is available on legal.ge after signing in: https://legal.ge/en/service/media-entertainment-and-sports-law-en/starting-a-gambling-business-in-georgia-complete-legal-guide-en

### Is it possible to start a gambling business without a permit?

No. Every type of gambling and/or profitable game, as well as the supply of games, requires a permit by law, and unlicensed activity is a violation entailing liability.

### To whom are permits issued?

Only to an entrepreneur registered in Georgia that has no recognized tax arrears and whose management circle satisfies the reputational requirements of the law. Transferring a permit to another person is prohibited.

### For what term do permits remain valid?

Casino, totalizator, slot machine hall and systemic-electronic organization permits — for 5 years, a promotional game permit — for 1 year, and lotto, bingo and supply permits — for 5 years.

### Where is the organization of gambling games allowed?

Only in a casino, a slot machine hall and/or a gambling club, as well as, subject to the requirements of the law, in a systemic-electronic form. A gambling club permit is issued only in the municipality of Tbilisi.