Georgia lawmakers have stalled on sports betting legalization talks for years, but a new discussion started up this week.
Legislators held the first meeting of the House Study Committee on Gaming in the State of Georgia on Monday. The committee will hold meetings through the fall to discuss topics like Georgia sports betting.
The committee largely discussed casino gambling during the first meeting.
Casinos in Georgia
If casinos were allowed in Georgia, EchoPark Speedway President Ed Clark said a destination casino resort would be built near the racetrack, formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Previous legislation proposed six casinos in the state. Several representatives discussed where they would like to see tax revenue from gambling support, including education and health care.
Multiple opponents of gambling expressed their concerns.
Gambling sponsor view
Rep. Marcus Wiedower said he simply wants to put guardrails on industries already happening in the state. Wiedower sponsored a resolution for a constitutional amendment to allow sports betting, which is still alive heading into next year’s legislative session.
Along with the constitutional amendment, Wiedower introduced a bill with industry framework that includes 16 licenses and a tax rate of 24% on sports betting revenue.
The study committee has until Dec. 1 to make recommendations on gambling issues.
Georgia sports betting efforts
The Peach State House did not advance betting bills before the crossover deadline in March. It ultimately does not affect the potential timeline, as a constitutional amendment would require a November 2026 vote.
Previous efforts have failed as legislators and chambers could not agree on a unified way to legalize sports betting.
If sports betting goes to the ballot, a survey from the University of Georgia found that 63% of voters favor the legalization. GeoComply found a 101% year-over-year increase in accounts trying to access legal sportsbooks from within Georgia during the 2024 NFL season.
