Of the states currently without legal sports betting, Georgia is thought to be the one with the best chance at legalization in 2024.
However, representatives of the Peach State attending last week’s National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) winter meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida expressed pessimism of any traction being made this year.
Georgia is the eighth-most populous state in America (11.029 million), based on 2023 census numbers, and it’s currently the third-largest state without any form of online sports betting. Since the beginning of the 2023 NFL season, there were 1.5 million attempts made in Georgia to access regulated sports betting sites according to GeoComply — a company that locates users of regulated online sites.
Clearly, there is some desire for legalization in Georgia.
Despite there being no authorized event wagering options in Georgia, three state representatives attended the NCLGS in search of answers.
“As a member of the regulating industry committee in Georgia, it’s unbelievable we live in a state that passed the lottery in 1992 and has not looked at any form of gambling since,” said Georgia Rep. and NCLGS secretary Al Williams.
“Many of my colleagues have been hypocritical on this issue because they go to other states and enjoy themselves.”
Of the bordering states, Mississippi has retail sports betting options, Tennessee allows online sports betting, Hard Rock Bet re-launched in Florida in late 2023, and North Carolina plans to legalize mobile sports betting before hosting March Madness tournament games.
“In spite of there being a law against (it), everybody wanted to play this past weekend,” Williams said of the College Football Playoff semifinals, which featured rival Alabama.
“I’d love to know how much money we left on the table this past weekend.”
Discussion in next legislative session
Georgia Rep. Debra Bazemore also attended the NCLGS looking for answers.
“So prior to coming here, I listened to my colleagues who, now I believe to not have had the inside information. They didn’t have all the information and that’s what I want to get, so I can make an educated decision,” Bazemore told Covers.
“Now that I’ve been exposed to a lot of different avenues and variables in relation to this, I have changed,” she said. “I think more conversation needs to be had.”
State Sen. Brandon Beach intends to reconsider gaming legislation in the state's next legislation session. A new constitutional amendment would authorize sports betting, casino gaming, and pari-mutuel wagering.
But this isn’t Georgia’s first attempt at progress on this front. In early 2023, a piece of legislation that would have authorized up to 16 online sportsbooks with wagering regulated by the Georgia Lottery failed to pass in the Georgia House and Senate after not being heard.
While Beach has expressed his support for sports betting in Georgia, Bazemore sees continued pushback.
“We have colleagues on both sides of the aisle and I know, especially on my side of the aisle, I’ve heard some say, ‘I don’t care what you do, I’m not for this.’ Just closed off,” she said.
Basemore represents two counties with differing viewpoints. Part of her constituency is concerned about addiction and the pitfalls of legalizing sports betting. Others consider the contributions that could be made for student scholarships and economic development.
“I don’t know what it’s going to take and I honestly don’t believe it’s going to happen this session,” she admitted. “The reason I say that is because it’s an election year.”
She spoke of lawmakers concerned about increasing their budgets and about losing their seats.
“People are scared and they don’t want to be responsible for whatever the fallout is,” she said.
