Independent MP, Levan Gogichaishvili, at the press-conference today, stated that the group of the Members of Parliament registers the legislative initiative on gambling and prize-winning games.

According to him, the strict regulation on gambling business is necessary. “We have already registered the bill prohibiting advertisement and today, we register the bill envisaging the regulations to, as we estimate, reduce the number of the gamblers with 60% in two or three years and increase the incomes to the budget, thus allowing the state controlling this grave situation in the country – dependence of our citizens on gambling and prize-winner games”, - he noted.

Dependence of gambling achieves the alarming state, acknowledged by the state, though this problem cannot be still addressed. The failure of solution is deliberate, as MP states, as the certain persons capable of decision-making, gain own profit from this business and besides, the state fails to ensure due administration of the business as it is one of the ways for money-laundry.

“This system poses the problem for the citizens deriving from their dependence and is accompanied by far significant risks. The system allows the minors easily using these services and allows our children and family members engaging at high level. The system facilitates to extreme poverty of our citizens. Deriving from this situation, we unfortunately encounter the suicides. Hence, we opted to register the bill already registered by the Government 1.5 years ago but still not considered in the Parliament”.

The bill envisages: first and foremost – age limitation up to 25 years; creation of the uniform register of the gamers to exclude participation of the minors in this service and creation of the register of the addicted persons.

The changes also concern increased taxes and sanctions, penalties in the Code of Administrative Offenses and improvement of enforcement mechanisms. “It is paramount that the state will enjoy the policy about further steps. First of all, we shall strike the tendency of gambling as it brings evil to the people, it entails addition and thus, the state shall render assistance to the citizens. We never forbid anything but the state shall ensure stricter control on gambling business”, - he urged.