Republic of Georgia seeks operator to run lottery, extend reach to online, mobile

The Republic of Georgia is looking for someone to manage its national lottery and extend the lottery’s reach into the online and mobile spheres.

This week, Georgia’s Ministry of Finance announced it was accepting proposals from companies interested in a 10-year exclusive license to organize and conduct lottery operations in Georgia. Interested bidders must submit their proposals (along with a US $5m bank guarantee) by Dec. 12, 2016.

The tender documentation states that the winning bidder will be determined by its “understanding of the Georgian lottery market.” The winner must also have a history of operating a commercial lottery, with proof that these operations generated sales of not less than GEL 350m (US $149m) over the past five years.

Another criteria for determining the winning bidder will be “who will offer the highest payment” to the state budget. The government expects the operator to make quarterly payments equal to 8% of total lottery sales, with a minimum payment of $5m.