Georgia Sports Betting Moves Slowly Forward

Despite previous unsuccessful attempts, supporters of legal sports gambling in Georgia are determined to assemble a winning coalition. One such effort is Senate Bill 172, which aims to legalize, regulate, and tax sports betting in the state. The Senate Regulated Industries recently voted in favour of advancing the bill to the full Senate for further debate. However, it is important to note that for the bill to take effect, a state constitutional amendment is required. This amendment would need the approval of two-thirds of both the House and Senate before it could be presented to voters in a statewide referendum.

The sponsor of Senate Bill 172, Athens Republican Bill Cowsert, argues that a constitutional amendment is necessary due to the specific circumstances surrounding the approval of the Georgia lottery in 1992. At that time, sports bets could only be placed in person at a Nevada casino. Cowsert believes that the technological advancements in the industry since then were not foreseen by the voters when they approved the lottery. However, there are differing opinions among supporters of sports betting in Georgia. Some believe that the Georgia lottery could oversee sports betting without the need for a constitutional amendment.

Cowsert’s previous attempt to pass a constitutional amendment failed to garner enough support in 2023, falling short of the required 38 votes in the Senate. In the same year, a bill that would have authorized sports betting and betting on horse races without a constitutional amendment was also rejected by senators. Despite these setbacks, Cowsert remains determined and plans to introduce a new constitutional amendment focused solely on authorizing sports betting. Other lawmakers, such as Republican Sen. Carden Summers of Cordele and Sen. Brandon Beach of Alpharetta, have also expressed their intentions to introduce amendments that would allow sports betting, casinos, and betting on horse races.

While the push for a constitutional amendment continues, some lawmakers have expressed doubts about whether it can secure the necessary two-thirds majority. Republican Sen. Matt Brass, who holds influence as the chair of the Rules Committee, referred to the constitutional amendment route as a “quagmire.” Another challenge that proponents of sports betting face is opposition from some Republicans who have moral objections to gambling. To succeed, any bill related to sports betting is likely to require the support of Democrats. However, some opponents have raised concerns about voting on the authorizing bill without clarity on how the revenue from sports betting would be allocated.

One of the key considerations in the debate over sports betting in Georgia is how the revenue generated from this industry would be distributed. Cowsert favours a constitutional amendment because it allows sponsors to negotiate the allocation of proceeds. A bill that places sports gambling under the Georgia lottery would allocate all the revenue to prekindergarten classes and HOPE Scholarships for high-achieving students. Democrats have proposed using sports betting revenue as a funding mechanism for needs-based college scholarships, while others have suggested allocating funds to the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in Macon.