Georgian public television will refuse to broadcast gambling advertising due to problems with gambling among citizens . According to the broadcaster, society has a clear negative attitude towards casinos operating in the country. The new rules for advertisers will come into force on January 1, 2020.

The statement of the Georgian Channel One says that the decision was made in accordance with the demands of society in order to promote a healthy lifestyle. There is no legal ban on the display of gambling advertising in the country.

According to official statistics, there are about 170 gambling establishments officially operating in Georgia, and the annual turnover of the gambling industry reaches 5.6 billion lari (about $2 billion). Income of companies in this area is higher than that of financial institutions.

Despite the fact that access to casinos and gambling halls is prohibited by law to persons under the age of majority, public figures state that adolescents aged 14-17 are actively involved in gambling, including on sitesonline casinos.

Tamara Japaridze, a representative of the Georgian non-governmental organization Mothers Against Gambling, stated that there are about 700,000 gambling addicts in the country. According to an NGO, almost two-thirds of convicts serving sentences in one of the Georgian prisons were prosecuted for gambling crimes.