Georgia is fast-tracking legislation offering tax breaks for international casino tournaments to attract foreign visitors and boost tourism during the off-season, Economic Policy Committee Chair Shota Berekashvili said.
He argued that the tournaments differ from regular casino gambling, describing them as international competitions that can bring thousands of participants and generate additional economic activity.
The proposed changes would allow licensed casinos to organize tournaments under a separate permit costing GEL 100,000 annually. At least 70% of participants must be foreign nationals.
Casinos could be exempt from gaming business fees if tournament prize pools exceed GEL 3 million and designated tables are used exclusively for the events. Foreign participants’ winnings from qualifying tournaments would also be exempt from personal income tax.
The fast-track process was questioned by opposition MP Giorgi Sharashidze, who said lawmakers had received the bill only the previous night and that the changes required more scrutiny.
