The National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) elected Georgia Rep. Al Williams as its next president.
Williams, a familiar face at NCLGS conferences for years, has served as president-elect since 2023. His election was made official at the summer conference held earlier this month, according to the release.
Williams replaces West Virginia Del. Shaun Fluharty, who will serve as an officer alongside NCLGS Founder Steve Geller for the 2026-27 period.
The election of Williams could set up an interesting dynamic between NCLGS and the gaming industry over his refusal to support this year’s sports betting legislation in Georgia.
What happened with Georgia sports betting?
Industry sources and Williams hold different opinions about what happened in the lead up to a Georgia sports betting proposal being heard on the House floor.
Williams insisted to Legal Sports Report that he was not involved in discussions for this year’s proposal despite others suggesting he was involved all year with a bill that changed little from 2025’s proposal.
“That is not true,” Williams said adamantly after the bill did not pass out of the House in March. “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.”
‘Honored to serve’
Williams and his disagreement with how Georgia was approached this year has not affected his feelings about the expansion of legal gaming, he said in the release.
“I am deeply honored to serve as President of NCLGS and grateful for the confidence my fellow legislators have placed in me,” Williams said. “For more than two decades, I’ve worked to ensure that Georgia and states across the country approach gaming with integrity, responsibility, and a clear understanding of how these policies affect our communities. NCLGS is the only organization where lawmakers can come together openly and constructively to examine the fast‑changing gaming landscape.
“I look forward to working with our new slate of officers as well as our founder and immediate past president as NCLGS continues to building a strong, bipartisan foundation for the future of gambling in America. Together, we will ensure that NCLGS remains the trusted voice for legislators navigating new technologies, emerging markets, and evolving regulatory challenges.”
Other NCLGS officers for 26-27
NCLGS announced four other officers:
- First VP: West Virginia Sen. Jason Barrett
- Second VP: Massachusetts Rep. Michael Finn
- Secretary: Kansas Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton
- Treasurer: Ohio Sen. Bill DeMora
DeMora spoke out against the proposed Save Ohio Sports Act in April, which suggests ending mobile betting and banning player props and parlays.
“I’m morally opposed to what the bill introduced to the House is because that’s ludicrous,” DeMora said. “No one’s going to bet if you don’t have prop bets and parlay betting. And I’m not sure those two sponsors of that bill actually know what those things are, I know our governor doesn’t know what they are, actually.”
