“When [Evolution] came to Georgia in 2018, the salary they were paying was considered relatively decent,” says Lelight. But that is no longer the case. The workers say they make less than $450 a month. (Rent for a one-bedroom apartment can range from $500 to $750 per month in Tbilisi). They argue that workers may also lose some of that money through penalties levied against them for minor infractions.
To create the necessary realistic casino-like environment, the hosts have to virtually sit at the tables in front of a camera for eight hours a day. Workers claim they are penalized for leaving even for health reasons. Over time, these violations can add up and workers can lose their jobs, they say.
“You have to talk all the time. Even if during the betting time, even the six seconds, you are quiet, you will lose a point, and that means you will lose part of the salary,” said Tamar Anciani, the host of the game, who is among the striking workers.
In 2022 a dealer passed out on one of the tables live on camera during her shift. Anciani claims other employees were not allowed to leave their own desks to help her, and those who did were disciplined.
“Management,” she says, “doesn’t treat us like people.”
Other employees reported suspected water leaks on electrical equipment and shared photos of bug bites they claimed came from working in the Evolution office.
Anciani went on hunger strike as part of the protests, even sewing his own mouth shut, but broke his hunger strike after more than two weeks without food. However, it remains on the columns.
The workers issued a series of demands, including holiday overtime pay, better office sanitation, an on-site doctor and a 100 percent pay increase to more closely match what brick-and-mortar casino dealers make in Tbilisi .
Evolution’s Linton says the company offers “highly competitive wages and benefits and pays approximately double that of other comparable positions in Georgia.” He adds: “We also offer benefits such as health insurance, free gym, free language courses and work-study scholarships. We are providing a first job and a stepping stone to a future career for thousands of young Georgians in a work environment we are proud of.”
However, Lelyte noted in a comment to Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet that workers in real casinos make closer to $1,000 a month.
