Massive Setback for Georgia Sports Betting

Despite the last-minute additions, two house bills that would legalize sports betting in Georgia have been defeated. Neither bill was passed to the opposite chamber, and without a vote, they effectively died in the session. Read on to learn more about the state’s bills and future of sports betting.

House Bill Details

Two bills were filed on February 28th, which would have established a framework for the legalization of sports betting in the state. HB 686 was the overall framework for online sports betting. The Georgia Lottery Corporation would be designated as the regulator and even be allowed to have an online betting platform. Some of the bill’s other provisions include:

• 20% tax on adjusted gross revenue
• Seven independent licenses and nine for various sports organizations like the Atlanta Hawks
• The GLC cannot prescribe minimum or maximum payout and hold percentage to operators
• License application fee of $100,000
• Operators must educate gamblers on responsible gambling

Meanwhile, HR 450 was a constitutional amendment allowing the state to provide and legalize sports betting. If the laws pass the House, a referendum will be held on November 2026 to see if voters approve these bills. Many professional sports teams and Lt. Gov Burt Jones supported the bills and have aimed to legalize sports betting for years.

Another Setback

Unfortunately, neither bill was able to pass the House vote. The bill deadline was March 6th, and neither bill was considered for voting. Similarly, the Senate voted against SR 131, which proposed to legalize sports betting and casinos with a tax rate of 20%. Aside from preventing people from gambling, this could have additional consequences.

Lawmakers were hopeful that these legislations could help the state earn additional revenue. It would be used to fund pre-K programs and scholarships, as well as help out with support for rural areas. While opponents are concerned about potential addiction, the bills have provisions for funds being provided to responsible gambling organizations.

Future of Georgia Bill

It’s unclear what the future holds for sports betting in Georgia. While there has been no progress since PASPA was repealed, sports teams and lawmakers continue to support new bills. Additionally, many citizens want to play at legal operators, and recent polls indicate they want the ability to vote on this issue.

Although these bills were defeated, lawmakers will likely continue proposing them. HB 686 also had an amendment put up to vote, increasing taxes to 24%, showing that the bills are being discussed. However, it remains to be seen if any bills will succeed next year.

History of Gambling in Georgia

Georgia is one of the most restrictive states when it comes to gambling. It took until 1993 for the creation of a legal state lottery. Most other legal gambling options are only allowed for charity purposes, as even casinos and parimutuel betting are banned. Currently, the legal gambling options include:

• Lottery
• Charity bingo
• Charity raffles

Despite this, lawmakers and citizens have attempted to pass legislation for years. That includes debates on whether the state constitution needs changes before implementing sports betting. While previous attempts to legalize sports betting have been unsuccessful, there was hope that the 2025 bills would make a breakthrough.

Conclusion

Georgia remains adamant about keeping most gambling options illegal. Many of the opponents cite concerns about gambling addiction, which will have to be the focus of any future legislation. As more people become interested in sports betting, whether the next bills will succeed remains to be seen.