A Friday night vote concerning sports betting in Georgia was more than just another vote for Rep. Al Williams.
Williams, after all, is the president-elect of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States and has been one of the loudest voices calling for legal gaming in Georgia. Friday was the first time a bill that could legalize sports betting made it to the House floor after years of failed attempts.
That is why it was so surprising to hear Williams talk against the resolution for nine minutes, stating he was not voting yes after he was kept out of conversations concerning where the future tax revenue would go. The resolution failed 98-63 and could push the Georgia sports betting conversation to 2027.
“You don’t ask my input on anything, I think it’s absolutely foolish to expect support,” Williams told LSR on Monday. “Nobody does that. A bill this important, you build a coalition.”
Williams: ‘I’m not a pawn’
Williams made it clear that he is still pro-gaming. He called Friday night’s walk to the Well one of the longest he’s taken as a legislator, knowing he was going against something he championed.
But the vote was not about Williams, nor his role as NCLGS president-elect. He took a stand he hopes any president-elect would take.
“There are some things more important than just Al Williams,” he said. “I wasn’t sent here to represent Al Williams. I was sent here to represent my constituents and my beliefs. And my beliefs are if you can’t have some input into a bill that’s generating revenue and you can’t have any say on where the revenue goes, why should you be used? You become just a pawn and I’m not a pawn.”
Williams said on the floor Friday that his first discussions about the sports betting bill carried over from the 2025 session were that Monday, with talks heating up all week. An industry source close to the negotiations said Williams was brought into the conversation two weeks prior to the vote and that Williams only brought up his wishes for the revenue the day of the vote.
“That is not true,” Williams said adamantly. “First time I was brought into these conversations may have been seven days ago and it was brief. We’ve had all off season and all year to talk about it.
“That in itself is crazy, talking about two weeks ago with a bill of this magnitude. I’ve been here since January 12. Nobody said a thing. Nobody.”
Does Georgia sports betting still have a chance?
Williams has not heard from those pushing sports betting this year since his Friday vote. That does not mean the topic is dead in the water, though, as the legislative session does not end until April 2.
“I have some people that I’ve heard, based on what they said, I think they’re amenable to a discussion, but that’s all I’m saying,” Williams said. “Two or three people can’t sit down and pick winners and losers. Not when you wanted more votes from me than you had, and you’re not willing to compromise or give up anything? Uh-uh, I don’t think so. It doesn’t work like that.”
With the crossover deadline over, sports betting language would have to be added to a bill that already passed a chamber. Williams said he was not sure if there was a bill that would fit that description, but until there is a deal on the table, that does not matter.
“I wish there was but until we reach an agreement, it can’t even catch a ride,” Williams said. ” … When people with good intentions meet, no matter how far apart they are, if they meet with good intentions, somewhere down the middle of the table we can come to an agreement. But everybody’s got to be at the table.”
