At the iGaming Germany 2026 conference held in Munich and organized by Eventus International, George Mamulaishvili delivered a speech focused on the regulatory experience of Eastern European gambling markets and the important lessons they offer to Europe.

During the presentation, Mamulaishvili noted that over the past 15 years, Eastern Europe has become a kind of “regulatory laboratory” for the gambling industry, where rapid legislative reforms, hybrid tax models, and new approaches to combating the illegal market have been introduced.

A significant part of the presentation was dedicated to comparing European markets. Mamulaishvili reviewed the experiences of Germany, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, Serbia, and Slovakia, discussing how different taxation systems, licensing structures, and player protection models have influenced market development.

Using Germany as an example, Mamulaishvili provided a detailed overview of the regulations introduced after 2021, which are based on strict control of the gambling sector and enhanced player protection mechanisms. According to him, although Germany has created a centralized and transparent system, high regulatory pressure and restrictions have created certain challenges for operators and for the competitiveness of the legal market.

At the same time, he compared the German model with Georgia’s experience and noted that Georgia uses regulation not only as a control mechanism, but also as a tool for economic development.

Mamulaishvili spoke about the stages of development of Georgia’s gambling sector — from legalization in 2005, to the establishment of licensing and taxation systems in 2011, and the strengthening of responsible gaming and financial control mechanisms since 2022.

According to him, it was precisely the stable and predictable environment that encouraged international companies such as Entain, Flutter Entertainment, and Betsson Group to enter the Georgian market.

The presentation also focused on Georgia’s development as a regional iGaming hub. Mamulaishvili noted that the sector has a significant impact on tourism, IT, digital technologies, and the investment environment.

Today, Georgia is considered one of the most developed and dynamic gambling markets in Eastern Europe. The country has managed to build a relatively flexible and business-friendly regulatory environment while still maintaining financial monitoring and responsible gaming standards. Thanks to simplified licensing procedures, international investment, modern payment infrastructure, and a strong digital ecosystem, Georgia has become attractive for both local and international operators.

“The gambling sector also plays an important role in the Georgian economy. It contributes to state budget revenues, creates employment opportunities, attracts foreign investment, and supports the growth of related industries such as hospitality, fintech, marketing, and software development. In recent years, Georgia has increasingly positioned itself as a strategic regional center for online gambling and gaming technologies in the Caucasus and Eastern European region” – Said George Mamulaishvili.

Special attention was also paid to the role of technology in modern regulation. According to Mamulaishvili, Eastern European countries are actively using digital monitoring systems, AI technologies, transaction control, and tax integration in order to balance market growth with social responsibility.

In conclusion, Mamulaishvili stated that the future of the gambling industry depends on finding a balance between control, innovation, and economic competitiveness. According to him, clear and flexible regulations are far more effective in combating the illegal market than strict bans.

His speech attracted significant interest from conference participants, particularly regarding Georgia’s regulatory model and its comparison with other European markets.

 

 

#iGamingRegulation #EasternEurope #GamblingIndustry #GeorgiaGaming #Fintech #BusinessRegulation #GamingNews #FlutterEntertainment #BetssonGroup #EventusInternational