Legislation centered around legalizing sports betting in Georgia is gaining traction and seems poised to be put in front of voters in 2022. Support from within the State Senate and House of Representatives could push the traditionally gambling-unfriendly state in a new direction.
The state has long been against sports betting and any type of gambling, being one of a handful of states to not have any type of commercial casino or tribal casino. Lobbyists like Mike Griffin of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board have fought to keep any type of gambling out of the state in the face of rising acceptance elsewhere in the country. Governor Brian Kemp has also long been opposed to any form of legalized gambling.
In spite of the longstanding hesitancy to expand gaming outside the state lottery, some sports betting operators are taking an optimistic view. FanDuel is in the process of opening a product development and IT operations hub in Atlanta, making a $15 million investment and placing themselves in a position to be a major force in Georgia
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Legislation based around legalized gambling has been frequently proposed over the last five years, but no bills have gained the necessary traction. The State Senate approved a pair of bills that would have paved the way for legal sports betting, SR 135 and SB 142, in March, but neither bill was approved by the House of Representatives before the legislative session came to a close. The first session of 2022 is currently in progress, and the likelihood of a bill being approved in this session is as high as it has ever been.
Sports teams join legislators in support of legal sports betting
Atlanta’s four major sports teams – the Braves, the Falcons, the Hawks, and the United – have formed a coalition in support of legalized sports betting in Georgia. The coalition believes that allowing fans to wager on the games will increase fan engagement and interest in the teams.
Support from local teams matches up well with support from state representatives. House Speaker David Ralston was quoted as saying “There is an appetite this session that I haven’t seen before to do something” when asked about the possibility of a gaming bill being passed during the current legislative session. Ralston hasn’t taken a strong personal position on expanded gaming, but is willing to put the question in front of voters.
Senator David Lucas as well as Representatives Ron Stephens, David Hickey, and Alan Powell have voiced their support for legalized sports betting. Lucas has pointed out that Georgia sports fans are already betting on games anyways, whether that means using an offshore sports betting site, local bookies, or driving across state lines to Tennessee to make their wagers.
We’re excited to see how it all pans out for Georgia – be sure to keep us bookmarked so you can keep up with the latest
igaming updates
as they happen!
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