The president of Turkey wants the Republic of Georgia to close its casinos, apparently because too many Turks are crossing the border to get their gamble on.

On Tuesday, Georgian media reported that Turkish President Recep Erdogan Tayyp (pictured) had asked former Georgian Prime Minister and current billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili to use his influence to help close casinos that sit tantalizingly close to Turkey’s border.

Ivanishvili said he’d close all casinos if it were up to him, but it’s not, and besides, the casinos contribute a lot to the Georgian economy, particularly in the Adjara region, which lies just across Turkey’s northeastern border and contains the city of Batumi, a major tourist hub on the Black Sea coast.

According to official government data, 11 casino permits have been issued in Batumi compared to just three in the capital Tbilisi. Batumi’s municipal budget derives GEL 20.2m (US $8.7m) from all gambling fees and taxes, of which 81% comes from its casino operations.