Major Hurdle Cleared for Legal Sports Betting in Georgia — But There’s a Catch

Georgia’s legislative effort to legalize sports betting overcame a significant obstacle on Thursday as the state Senate approved one of the proposed sports bills, sending it to the House for further consideration. The bill included a surprise amendment requiring a constitutional amendment for passage. If legalized, sports betting in Georgia would provide residents with access to top sports betting sites.

State lawmakers in Georgia have been debating the necessity of a constitutional amendment before moving forward with legalizing sports betting, causing a lot of back-and-forth on the issue.

On Thursday, Bill SB 386 aimed to prevent alterations to the state constitution by integrating sports betting into the lottery system. However, a Senate vote on the same day altered the trajectory of the Bill by introducing a requirement for a constitutional amendment before legalization could occur.

Before a legal sports betting law can be passed, it must first be approved by the Georgia House of Representatives and then be voted on by the public during the November election.

Support for a constitutional amendment

Georgia legislators are currently considering two Bills that would legalize sports betting in the state known as the Peach State.

Both parties share the goal of launching a legal sports betting platform in the state in the near future, with one proposing a constitutional amendment as part of their plan and the other aiming to avoid this by linking sports betting to the state’s Lottery system.

During Thursday’s Senate session, Sen. Bill Cowsert, the author of SB 172, a pro-amendment bill, stated that the amendment is fair to the people of Georgia, does not detract from the bill’s goals, and is the appropriate approach.

He stated that attempting to bypass the voters of Georgia is deceitful at the very least and underhanded.

Senator Cowsert’s argument proved successful as the Bill, including the constitutional amendment, was passed by a vote of 34-7 in the Senate.

What is in Bill SB 386?

The Georgia Senate approved a Bill that would make 16 mobile sports betting licenses accessible, with a possibility that some of them could be obtained by our top sports betting apps.

The Bill would offer professional sports teams and venues in the state the opportunity to obtain a sports betting license. These entities include the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta FC, Atlanta Dream, Augusta National, the PGA Tour, and Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The Georgia Lottery could potentially receive a license, and seven standalone opportunities will be available for operators in what is anticipated to be a thriving Georgia market.

Under the Bill, a licensing fee of $100,000 and an annual renewal fee of $1 million would be implemented. Additionally, a tax rate of 20% would be established to support educational programs in the state.

Looking forward

It is uncertain whether SB 386 will be approved by the House of Representatives in Georgia. Past Bills have encountered delays in the House and the same could happen with this one.

Nevertheless, the bipartisan backing in the Senate for a revised SB 386 is a noteworthy advancement and recognizes the current happenings in the state.

Senator Brandon Beach revealed that sports betting is already taking place in Georgia without regulation, making it easily accessible to minors, lacking responsible gaming measures, and not generating any revenue for the state.

Senator Derek Mallow expressed that supporting this bill is supporting children.

Now we are awaiting the House of Representatives. If it deviates from its current pattern of delaying such legislation, voters will have the opportunity to voice their opinions in November.

The possibility of a legal sports betting launch in Georgia in 2024 is effectively off the table, making 2025 the earliest we could potentially see legal sports wagering in the Peach State.