Georgia’s Deputy Finance Minister Mikheil Dandur met with representatives of the country’s gambling business on Monday to discuss industry-related sections of the European Union’s 12 conditions for granting the country candidacy, the finance ministry said. said.

Discussions included a review of provisions in the 2014 EU-Georgia Association Agreement on strengthening oversight of gambling businesses in accordance with regulations of the Financial Action Task Force, an intergovernmental body to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. was

As a member of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Assessment (Moneyval), Georgia is obliged to obtain online and other gambling licenses, including gambling on board ships. I have. OK.

The ministry emphasized its responsibility to define anti-money laundering policies, strengthen oversight of the gambling industry and facilitate the formation of a sound legislative foundation, according to Moneyval’s fifth report.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said in March that the introduction of a gambling advertising ban in Georgia would address “one of the biggest problems” of the country’s population. Photo: Government of Georgia Public Relations Office.

Given its mandate, the Ministry of Finance actively participates in the development of national plans against money laundering and terrorist financing and works closely with relevant national agencies,” the ministry added. .

In addition to Moneyval’s recommendations, the parties also discussed further improving restrictions on access to foreign online gambling resources.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili last year began raising fees for mostly foreign-owned online gambling businesses, banning advertising and raising the age limit for gamblers to 25.

The prime minister has suggested that around £1.5 billion ($527 million) “flows out of the country each year” for online casinos.