Casino executives believe operators now exiled from gaming markets in Russia and Ukraine could be attracted to invest in Georgia’s growing casino sector, where the local government is thought unlikely to follow Moscow and Kiev in banning casino gaming.

With Tbilisi’s two established casinos now labouring under a heavy tax burden, Georgia’s government is hoping that a regional development initiative to encourage casinos in outlying parts of the country will draw investment. However, infrastructure problems and wavering investor sentiment means it is anybody's guess if and when casinos will ever operate there.