Levan Ioseliani: Do we want to make Georgia famous for gambling? Do we no longer have anything else to present ourselves with? - Whether a lot of money comes in or a little, it is not an argument at all, the harm is immense

"Do we want to make Georgia famous for gambling? Do we no longer have anything else to present ourselves with?" — said Public Defender Levan Ioseliani, responding to a law under which casinos will be given the opportunity to host international gambling tournaments.

Speaking on PalitraNews' program 360 Degrees, Levan Ioseliani stated that the country cannot position itself on the international arena as a gambling hub.

According to his assessment, the harm caused by gambling to our country is so great that it no longer matters whether a lot of money or a little comes into the country through them.

"I am a living witness; parents come to me every week whose families are victims of gambling. Their children are mostly in prison, and all these families are ruined because of gambling. My statement was about the fact that the country cannot position itself on the international arena as a hub for saying: 'Come on, come to us to play poker, let's popularize poker.'

I was listening to Mr. Berekashvili, who was introducing this draft law. He was saying that we are not doing anything bad, that it involves popularizing poker, and that we have reduced the share of Georgian citizens to up to 20% while foreigners play. First of all, 20% of Georgian citizens is not a small amount, but the fact that foreigners will play is not an argument at all. The main problem is that when you organize an international tournament in your country, it serves to popularize it, to increase the country's recognition specifically in that sport [poker]. Why else do countries 'kill themselves' for the Olympics? That country becomes famous. Do we want to make Georgia famous for gambling? Do we no longer have anything else to present ourselves with? Whether a lot of money comes in or a little, it is not an argument at all, given how immense the harm is that gambling brings to our country," Levan Ioseliani stated.

For context, Parliament discussed under an accelerated procedure and passed at the third reading a package of legislative amendments as a result of which international gambling tournaments will be held in Georgia. The initiative was introduced by "Georgian Dream" deputies and was adopted at the final reading by a vote of 73 in favor and 5 against. Two plenary sessions were dedicated to the discussion and approval of the project.