Georgia Sports Betting Sponsor Open to Bill Changes

• As Georgia’s legislative session winds down, sports betting discussions have again reemerged
• The House Committee on Higher Education today heard the Senate approved sports betting bill SB 386
• No vote taken on the legislation

With Georgia’s legislative session scheduled ending later this month, the state’s sports betting hopes now have a definitive running clock.

For the first time since the Senate approved a bill to legalize sports betting, the Georgia House of Representatives held a public committee hearing on the legislation. Time is running out for sports betting, though, as the state’s session is scheduled to end on Thursday, March 28.

The House Committee on Higher Education held an initial hearing for SB 386, which would effectively legalize online sports betting for 16 license holders in the state if approved by Georgia voters in the general election.

Always Room for Daily Fantasy Sports

Sen. Clint Dixon (R-45) presented his bill to the committee this afternoon, but no action was taken. The triggering legislation that calls for a constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting, SR 579, was not discussed.

His bill aims to legalize online sports betting for 16 license holders in the state. The legislation sets the sports betting tax rate at 20% of adjusted gross revenue. Licenses would cost $1 million annually to renew and applicants would have to pay a $100,000 application fee. It would allow for bets on college sports.

The bill accounts for a total of 16 online sports betting licenses, with the numbers breaking down as follows:

• Five for Georgia professional sports teams (Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta United FC, and Atlanta Dream)
• One for Augusta National Golf Course
• One for the PGA Tour
• One for Atlanta Motor Speedway
• One for the Georgia Lottery Corporation

The remaining seven licenses will be awarded by the gaming commission.

Despite the waning session, Dixon made it clear today that he is willing to work with the House to make the bill more amenable for passage. An increased tax rate to 25% and including daily fantasy sports language are two changes Dixon said he would be agreeable to consider for the bill.

A DFS bill died in the House last week during the state’s crossover day and the only way for the fantasy games to be legalized this year is to be included in another bill.

Challenges Remain for Legalization

The Senate-approved bill moved quickly through the chamber in February and offered some renewed hope that Georgia may actually get something done this year, but similar challenges that stalled previous bills likely still remain.

One major hang-up in past years was a disagreement at to whether or not sports betting could be legalized without voters approved a constitutional amendment. Dixon’s originally legalized sports betting without one, but was amended on the Senate floor to include one and overwhelmingly passed

Despite its quick journey through the Senate, it remains to be seen if the House will have the same energy to support sports betting this year. Partisan politics held up sports betting efforts in recent years and the constitutional amendment question could come up again to potentially derail talks.

Another hearing for the bill is scheduled in committee for tomorrow at 1 p.m.