Georgia Wades Back Into Sports Betting, Gambling Discussions

• Georgia lawmakers are once again discussing the positives and negatives of legalized gambling and sports betting in the state
• The House Study Committee on Gaming in the State of Georgia met for the first time this week
• The gaming committee will meet throughout the rest of this year to discuss legalized gambling

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Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but Georgia legislators are once again discussing the benefits and pitfalls of legalized gambling and sports betting in the Peach State.

The House Study Committee on Gaming in the State of Georgia met for the first time this week, kicking off discussions scheduled for the rest of the year to “undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems” of legalized gambling.

Georgia lawmakers have tried, and failed, to pass several bills over the last several years to legalize casino gambling and sports betting.

Legislators Do Not Legalize Gambling, Georgians Do

Despite legislators not approving a sports betting or gambling bill in this previous session, they did approve HR 753, a bill creating the House Study Committee on Gaming in the State of Georgia. The committee will meet several times until Dec. 1, 2025, to make suggestions or file an official report on the legalization of gambling.

While the first meeting of the study committee on Monday did not delve too deeply into the specifics of legalized gambling in the state, it likely put to rest the age-old argument in the state of who will have the final word on gambling legalization.

A disagreement over what needs to happen to legalize Georgia gambling has brewed for the last several years, as lawmakers in the state have not agreed on the necessity of a constitutional amendment or a simple standalone bill to legalize gambling.

At least in the last year or two, most lawmakers tackling the subject have opted for a constitutional amendment, which requires approval at the polls from state voters. referendum, leaving the decision up to state citizens.

“Legislators don’t legalize gambling. The people of Georgia legalize gambling. It’s only up to the legislature if it’s their desire to put it on the ballot and the people of Georgia to make that decision,” Rep. Alan Powell (R-33) said during the meeting.

Gambling is Happening Right Now in Georgia

During its initial meeting, the study committee listened to the concerns of several members of the public who decried the possibility of expanding gambling in the state.

Rep. Marcus Wiedower (R-119) – who has filed several sports betting bills over the past several years – reminded the public that anyone interested in gambling or betting on sports in the state can do so right now quite easily on the black market.

“I’ve always maintained that it’s been my efforts to not expand or encourage, but to regulate or put guardrails on things that are already happening in this state prevalently,” he said.

Wiedower filed two bills earlier this year to legalize Georgia sports betting. Wiedower’s legislation depended on a constitutional amendment to legalize online sports betting, which would have required a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate, and then approval from Georgia voters in a future election.

The legislation would have provided funding for the state lottery’s HOPE scholarship, pre-kindergarten, and a maximum of $22.5 million for problem gambling services.

Wiedower previously proposed a bill in 2023 to legalize sports betting as well. The bill did not require a constitutional amendment and legalized both online and retail sports betting in the state.

Next Steps for Committee

The initial meeting only broadly discussed brick-and-mortar casino gambling, as well as briefly touching on sports betting and iGaming, but the topics will be discussed in more depth at future meetings, Wiedower said.

The next meeting will likely be held in late August, he noted.