Georgia lawmakers began the 2025 legislative session Monday with sports betting proponents expected to introduce a legalization bill in the coming weeks. Advocates hope this year – after six previous failures – will finally give Georgians the opportunity to place legal sports bets.
Georgia sports betting overview
Georgia legislators have considered sports betting bills in each session since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal wagering ban in 2018. Though the measures have had bipartisan support in both the state House and Senate, each attempt has fallen short.
In the meantime, 39 states have started accepting legal bets or approved authorization to do so.
Proponents have argued that Georgians should have the right to place bets in a safe, regulated environment. Supporters also argue that taxes on sports bets could go to government programs such as the popular HOPE Scholarship, which funds in-state college tuition.
Polling shows a majority of Georgia residents support avenues for legal sports wagering. Data collected by gaming geolocation firm GeoComply shows that thousands of Georgians try to access legal sportsbooks each NFL Sunday.
🏈 GeoComply's Monday Huddle: Georgia Edition 🏈
— GeoComply (@GeoComply) November 18, 2024
On NFL Sunday (Week 11), we flagged 7,800+ player accounts & 42,000+ geolocation checks from Georgia players trying to access legal sportsbooks in other states— up 129% & 105% vs. last year. 🚫 The demand for legal betting is… pic.twitter.com/g3Mwke8UDG
Opponents, as in many other Southern states, have argued societal ills from gambling problems will not outweigh the benefits. Neighboring South Carolina and Alabama are two of the 11 remaining states that have not approved sports betting.
Republicans control both chambers of the legislature. A block of GOP lawmakers side with the opposing view of sports betting and remain unlikely to support any legislation. Politically, Republican leaders in the House and Senate may not bring up the bill until or unless it has majority support within the GOP caucus.
This means any legislation will require Democratic support as well.
Further complicating matters is the question of amending the state constitution. Elected officials are divided over whether they have the authority to directly permit sports betting in Georgia, potentially as a corollary of the existing state lottery that funds the HOPE Scholarship, or if it will require a separate constitutional amendment.
Placing an amendment on the ballot requires a two-thirds threshold in both chambers, adding another potential hurdle.
Republican policymakers, including GOP Gov. Brian Kemp, tend to support the constitutional amendment position. This gives elected officials political cover, as it punts authorization to the voters instead of lawmakers, but would also delay sports betting until after the 2026 midterm elections, the earliest a statewide ballot is scheduled.
The enabling legislation that would put the question on the 2026 ballot is set to be introduced before the 2025 legislative session concludes in April.
Potential Georgia sportsbooks
If Georgia approves sports betting, there should be no shortage of interested potential sportsbooks.
FanDuel, which has a corporate office in Atlanta and has helped lead sports betting approval lobbying efforts in the statehouse, would be the likeliest candidate to pursue licensure. Rival DraftKings, the other leading national brand by market share, would also be a top contender.
Georgia’s large population and popular professional and college sports teams mean it would likely attract interest from other national brands including BetMGM, Caesars, bet365, BetRivers, Fanatics, and ESPN BET.
Whether or not the legislature approves sports betting directly or puts the question on a ballot measure, lawmakers will have to create the enacting legislation that lays out tax rates and license access. It remains to be seen how many licenses would be available but any approved structure would likely include market access for all major national brands and potentially other smaller operators.