The debate over whether to legalize sports betting in Georgia will likely resume this upcoming legislative session, according to two Democratic lawmakers.
Georgia legislators are due to return to the state capitol in early January. And, when they do, the matter of retail and online sports betting sites looks destined to find its way into their discussions at some point.
There are currently no legal sports betting options in Georgia. But Rep. Karen Bennett, a Georgia Democrat who spoke to Covers on the sidelines of the recent National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) meeting in Las Vegas, said there would be an opportunity to revisit the issue when the state's House of Representatives and Senate return.
“We've got a new session, a new term,” she told Covers. “We've got new legislators, both in the Senate and in the House, which brings about diversity of ideas. And I do believe that there will be an opportunity for the bill to gain traction this session.”
The question of legal sports betting was raised in the gubernatorial race this past fall, when Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams voiced support for mobile sports wagering and casino gaming in Georgia. Abrams, however, lost again in November to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who remained neutral on the issue.
Still, while a majority of Georgia voters rejected Abrams, the sports-betting question will probably be taken up again by legislators. Georgia is also one of the more diverse states in the U.S., and any discussion about sports betting may include talk of ensuring the participation of minorities and women.
“I think the potential is great, but nothing's going to fly without inclusion language,” Georgia Rep. Al Williams told Covers at the NCLGS conference. “We have to be assured that everybody is going to enjoy this influx.”
An untapped market
The southeastern United States remains one of the more relatively restrictive regions in terms of legal betting.
Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Alabama are all currently without any authorized event wagering options. That means Georgia bettors would have to travel to a North Carolina tribal casino or across the border into Tennessee if they want to make a legal sports bet on an Atlanta Falcons game or otherwise.
Still, Georgia has a population size and sports culture that could prove attractive to gaming companies. Professional sports franchises in the state have shown interest in legalizing sports betting as well.
Williams, who has also served as the treasurer of the NCLGS, said that he was looking to avoid any "poison pill" that could kill any sports betting-related legislation. However, he also said that it was “bullshit” to characterize inclusion language as a giveaway.
Similar considerations arose when Maryland moved to enact legal sports betting, with the state legislature there passing a bill that aims to ensure minorities and women will participate in the industry. While Williams said he liked what Maryland did, the two states aren't exactly alike.
“We need to emulate [Maryland],” Williams said. “But the language has to be different to get there. You can't use Massachusetts and Maryland language when the politics are completely different.”
A mobile possibility
Williams said sports betting-related legislation will likely be introduced in the upcoming session, although he was hopeful casino-related legislation would be put forward as well. There are currently no casinos in the state.
“Casinos are where the jobs are,” Williams said. “There are no jobs in sports betting. It's a pleasure for some folks but we need jobs and economic improvement in Georgia.”
Even so, Williams said he was supportive of online sports betting in the southern state.
“I'm all for it because people should have the choice,” he told Covers. “But I don't see anything in it for the average Georgian from an income standpoint. So my thing is how do we economically benefit those who are there.”
An uphill climb
Both Bennett and Williams will have to contend with a legislature and governor's office that will be controlled by Republicans. That said, given the considerable presence of social conservatives in Georgia, it may take support from both sides of the aisle if anything related to sports betting is to pass the legislature.
Previous efforts to pass a sports-betting bill in Georgia have come up short for various reasons, including so-called voting-rights legislation in 2021 that caused any event-wagering talks to screech to a halt.
It remains to be seen where the governor will land on the matter. Williams said he expected Gov. Kemp would likely remain quiet about the issue but that he hopes he comes around.
“But I'll tell you one thing you can bet,” Williams added. “Al Williams won't have any influence over [Kemp].”
