Georgian national broadcaster bans gambling ads

Georgia’s national public television broadcaster, Georgian Public Broadcasting, has issued a ban on gambling advertising on its flagship channel, the First Channel. The ban will come into effect on 1 January, 2020. The broadcaster said in a statement on 30 October that it made the decision due to its position as a public entity with the goal of contributing to the wellbeing of Georgian society. “The primary goal is to respond to the demands of society, to promote healthy lifestyles and to  fight with the severe disease of gambling addiction,” the broadcaster said in a statement. Georgian Public Broadcasting also operates the Second Channel, but did not mention any changes to gambling advertising on this channel. The broadcaster also held a debate on gambling on weekly current affairs programme, “Current affairs with Maka Tsintsadze” on Friday 1 November.