Georgia lawmakers are as soon as once more pushing for legalized sports activities betting and on line casino playing, with a newly launched decision that would permit voters to resolve on the matter in 2026. Senate Decision 131 (SR 131), filed by 4 Republican state senators, goals to amend the state structure to allow regulated gaming whereas establishing a governing physique to supervise the trade.
Projected income and legislative particulars:
Based on 13WMAZ, the sponsors—Senators Carden Summers, Billy Hickman, Brandon Seaside, and Lee Anderson—have reintroduced a measure just like previous efforts that beforehand failed to achieve traction. If authorized, the decision would authorize no less than eight on line casino licenses and impose a 20% tax on gaming income, with the proceeds allotted to a newly established Georgia Gaming Proceeds Fund.
The proposal is a part of Georgia’s ongoing wrestle with unregulated sports activities betting. Studies point out that 1000’s of residents already take part in playing by way of unauthorized strategies or by crossing into states the place betting is authorized.
Consultants counsel {that a} totally regulated sports activities betting market in Georgia may generate over $100 million in annual tax income. GeoComply, a cybersecurity agency that tracks on-line playing exercise, discovered that in the course of the newest NFL season, greater than 300,000 betting accounts have been accessed inside Georgia. Moreover, a major variety of residents have been detected touring to Tennessee to put authorized wagers.
“Estimates take a look at in a mature authorized market in Georgia, the annual tax income for the state could be someplace round $112-115 million yearly,” stated John Pappas, a senior advisor at GeoComply.
Consultant Marcus Wiedower, a number one advocate for legalization, is spearheading efforts to go a constitutional modification that might solely allow on-line sports activities betting—excluding bodily casinos, horse racing kiosks, or different in-person betting choices. Below his proposal, a portion of gaming income could be directed to the Georgia Lottery, which funds schooling, whereas as much as $20 million yearly could be allotted towards accountable playing initiatives.
SR 131 builds on these concepts, aiming to create a Georgia Gaming Fee to manage operations and guarantee honest oversight of betting exercise. The first $2 billion in tax income could be divided amongst Georgia’s counties, with extra funds distributed as soon as a $5 billion milestone is reached. Moreover, 5% of all income exceeding that quantity could be allotted to playing habit prevention and therapy applications.
Opposition and challenges to the invoice:
Regardless of rising public curiosity in legalized betting, Georgia has traditionally been immune to playing enlargement. Spiritual teams and anti-gambling organizations stay sturdy opponents of those efforts.
“We’re going to see it exponentially make issues worse,” warned Mike Griffin, Public Affairs Consultant for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. “It’s going to extend habit, and we’ve already seen that habit charges enhance the potential of suicide charges.”
Whereas opponents acknowledge that unlawful playing is widespread, they argue that this isn’t a motive to legitimize the observe. “The Lord solely is aware of what all is going on in our state that’s unlawful. That each one doesn’t have to be made authorized,” Griffin added, as reported by Fox 5 Atlanta.
Efforts to legalize sports activities betting in Georgia date again to 2019, but each try has confronted legislative roadblocks. In 2024, related payments didn’t go within the Home regardless of having Senate approval. SR 131 follows earlier proposals, similar to SR 538, which sought to legalize each casinos and sports activities betting however finally stalled earlier than reaching a vote.
For the newest decision to advance, it should go the Georgia Senate by March 6, 2025, and acquire full legislative approval by April 4, 2025. If profitable, the measure could be positioned on the November 2026 poll for voter consideration.
Supporters imagine that growing momentum, alongside strain from neighboring states like Tennessee and North Carolina—each of which have thriving authorized sports activities betting industries—may push Georgia lawmakers to lastly approve the measure. Ought to voters help the initiative, authorized sports activities betting and on line casino gaming may launch in 2027, making Georgia a aggressive participant within the U.S. gaming trade.
