Georgia is preparing to open a new chapter in its gambling industry by allowing online casinos to operate exclusively for foreign users, a move aimed at attracting investment and boosting economic growth.

Under proposed regulatory changes, the government plans to introduce a new licensing category for online gambling operators. The platforms will be permitted to serve international customers, while access for Georgian citizens will remain strictly prohibited, The Caspian Post reports via geoperepolox.

The initiative would allow foreign operators to legally establish and run online gambling businesses from within Georgia, creating a new framework tailored to the international market.

According to the proposal, licenses will be issued for five years and will cost 100,000 lari (approximately $37,600) per year. Operators will also be required to pay a 5% tax on the difference between total bets placed and winnings paid out.

The reforms include another significant change: each license will be linked to only one website. Previously, operators were allowed to run up to two platforms under a single license.

Existing operators will be granted a transition period to adapt to the new rules.

The changes will help attract additional foreign investment, create new jobs, and strengthen the country's position as a regional hub for international online gaming services.