Georgia is one of the few states that has not passed mobile sports betting, nor does it have any commercial casinos; both topics were up for discussion at a recent committee meeting tasked with analyzing the effects of gaming in the Peach State.
Too Little, Too Late
Georgia is only one of 11 states that have not legalized retail or mobile sports betting, and land-based casinos are also nonexistent in the traditionally conservative state. However, progress is being made in remedying both, but it will undoubtedly be a slow grind before either is legislatively approved.
The House Study Committee on Gaming in the State of Georgia convened for its first meeting earlier this week, and both topics are on the agenda. House Resolution 450 and House Bill 686 were both legislative attempts at bringing mobile sports betting to the masses, but both arrived too late in the session to garner any traction.
Representative Marcus Wiedower sponsored HB 686, and his measure included the issuance of 16 sports betting licenses to sportsbook operators in the Peach State. A 24% tax rate is included in the measure, up from an original 20%, while HR 450 proposed a constitutional amendment that would let the voters decide on a ballot referendum.
Both bills were advanced on March 6th, which was a bit too late in the session to rally support, but they are indicative of a curiosity amongst lawmakers as to raising funds for social projects, primarily education, with a share of the proceeds earmarked for problem gambling resources.
House Higher Education Committee Chairman Chuck Martin agreed that the bills were proposed late, stating, “It came in late, and I guess people just weren’t there yet.”
Gambling in the Deep South
Representative Marcus Wiedower said in a statement that “I believe strongly—and Georgians by wide margins agree with me—that this change will not only bring in much-needed revenue to educate our youngest learners but also provide consumer protections that don’t exist in today’s black market.”
Because neither bill was passed, the earliest we can see a legislative return to legalization is in the next session. However, there are still grave concerns about gambling in the state, and many have pointed to an epidemic of problem gambling occurring. Nevertheless, the committee has until December 1st to make its recommendations on gambling in Georgia.
We should also note that a poll was conducted by the University of Georgia and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce that revealed 63% of Georgians supported sports betting. Many of the societal concerns have been abated, but 78% of those who were polled believe it should be the citizens who make the determination and not the legislature.
During the 2024 NFL season, GeoComply, a company that provides geolocation compliance, fraud prevention, and verification of a customer’s true digital address, reported that there was over a 100% increase in Georgians trying to access legal sportsbooks.
