Georgia Sports Betting “A Lot Of Work To Do”
Georgia Sports Betting “A Lot Of Work To Do”
Georgia State Capitol
Georgia’s engagement in sports betting discussions was reignited Tuesday, yet the committee still has significant groundwork to cover before the House can cast their votes.
The House Higher Education Committee deliberated Senate Bill 386 on Tuesday, however, no actions were taken regarding the bill. Crucially, the agenda did not incorporate the essential Senate Resolution 579, which would put Georgia sports betting on the November ballot as the enactment legislation is tied to a constitutional amendment.
Rep. Chuck Martin, the committee chair, suggested that SB 386 and SR 579 might be on the agenda for a Wednesday meeting, but no voting is expected. The current Georgia legislative session is scheduled to run until March 28.
“We have a lot of work to do on this measure,” Martin said at the end of Tuesday’s meeting.
Sen. Clint Dixon, the bill’s sponsor, introduced the bill to the House committee. Martin indicated that both SB 386 and SR 579 would need re-evaluation due to divergences in the language used for tax appropriation.
Dixon responded to a number of queries about how this bill differs from the previous year’s House bill that was passed, the issues surrounding problem gambling, and how the revenue generated would benefit Georgia’s education system. Several legislators also expressed their concerns about college-level betting, which the bill permits.
Dixon expressed his willingness to incorporate language that would be agreeable to daily fantasy sports operators like Georgia-based Prize Picks. Notably, a House DFS bill failed to get Senate approval last month.
Insiders in the industry are pessimistic about Georgia’s prospects to legalize sports betting this year. This comes as sports betting was removed from a gambling proposal in neighbouring Alabama.
One source suggested that the successful passage in Georgia hinges on stakeholders pushing for the constitutional amendment. However, this would require a significant financial investment, a tough proposition with another expensive ballot initiative taking place in Missouri.
“It’s a gamble, and if it goes to the ballot and fails, that sets us back like five years in a state like Georgia,” the source remarked.
In previous attempts to legalize sports betting, bills were nullified as Republicans and Democrats sparred over more significant issues. Sports betting legalization demands bipartisan support due to opposition from both sides of the political spectrum.
This year, SB 386 commenced with strong bipartisan backing. But similar to recent years, partisan politics might erect a barrier for sports betting to conclude this session.
“Like in recent years, it looks like this might get held captive,” a source recently stated. “But maybe we’ll be pleasantly surprised.”
SB 386 made a swift start in the Senate, securing approval from the chamber 35-15 on February 1.
Sen. Bill Cowsert added an amendment tying the issue to a constitutional amendment despite some lawmakers believing the issue could be legalized through the Georgia Lottery independently. This amendment was passed 34-7.
Following this, lawmakers introduced SR 579, which made its way through the Senate and now awaits action in the House.
Details of Georgia’s Sports Betting Proposal
The proposed sports wagering framework in Georgia would establish 16 licenses, with eight of them directly linked to professional sports organizations.
The Georgia Lottery would also receive an online skin, while the remaining seven would be open for competitive bids.
This proposal also establishes a 20% tax rate on sports betting revenue.
