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You may be wondering why we are writing about sports betting in Georgia, a state that does not allow gambling of any kind other than a state lottery. It has been a pleasant surprise to see the debate over legalizing online sports betting in Georgia take off over the past couple of years. Few people thought Georgia would ever legalize sports betting, but the legislature has continued to worked toward introducing an online-only model in the state.

The latest attempt to bring online sports betting to Georgia pertains to the filing of SB 386. SB 386 passed through the State Senate via a 35-15 vote on Feb. 1, 2024 but unfortunately failed to clear the house. This bill was formerly proposed as not requiring a constitutional amendment, instead aiming to make sports betting similar to the lottery. Yet, that’s no longer the case since the passing through the State Senate. On February 28, the state Senate also passed Senate Resolution 579, which is related to SB 386. This is mainly a procedural move, but it shows that there is an appetite for legal sports betting among many in the Georgia State Legislature.

Additionally, a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize both sports betting and retail casino gambling passed through a Senate committee in February 2024. This proposed amendment, Senate Resolution 538, would require approval from the General Assembly, the Governor, and the people of Georgia before it could become law. SR 579 also did not clear the House vote, meaning that Georgia sports betting is now tabled until 2025.

For more on the legislative activities in Georgia, check out this recent article from our colleagues at SportsHandle.

This page will break it all down. From Georgia’s gambling history, to recent efforts and potential timelines, to what the industry might ultimately look like. We leave no Georgia online sports betting stone unturned.

Gambling History in Georgia

Like many southern states, the lottery was popular in Georgia back in the mid-1800’s. But the lotteries were corrupt and state leaders did not want the vice of gambling in their state, so lotteries were banned in 1878. That law stood for over 100 years, as did the prohibition of any sort of gambling in the Peach state. Other states, most notably Florida, legalized horse and greyhound racing along with various lotteries, but Georgia stood firm until 1976, when charity bingo and raffles were legalized. 

In 1992, Georgia established a state-run lottery to fund educational opportunities for youth, including the HOPE scholarship program. The lottery remains very popular and, along with charity bingo, is still the only form of gambling in the state. 

Legislative Activity

Supporters

Pro-gaming interest groups have been pushing to expand gambling in Georgia for years. Any expansion of gambling, including horse racing and retail casinos, would require a public vote on a state constitutional amendment. In the past, sports betting has been included in the lobbying efforts to expand gambling by amending the state constitution. The familiar arguments of job creation and increased tax revenue lead the lobbying efforts of casino and horse racing companies hoping for new business opportunities in Georgia. 

Opponents

Opponents of expanded gaming in the state, led by the faith community, counter that any sort of gambling is immoral and an addictive habit that should not be condoned by the state. Over the years public hearings have been held, arguments have been made, bills have been introduced, and… nothing has happened. Opposition to any sort of gambling, including sports betting, seems to be why legislative action has not been taken. Many legislators are concerned that legalizing any sort of gambling will open the door for all types of gambling to become legal and normalized in the state.  

A Different Approach

Legislation to legalize sports betting has been introduced in the Georgia state legislature for the past several years. It has seen some momentum at times, but nothing has ever passed the legislature. In 2023, State Representative Ron Stephens, a leading proponent of sports betting legalization, has said he plans to introduce legislation to present two initiatives before the voters of the state. If his legislation passes, voters will be able to decide whether to legalize sports betting, casino gaming, and horse racing. The other initiative would decide how the revenue from such activities would be spent. He has pursued this strategy in the past without much progress.

SB 386 Set in Motion

SB 386 is the newest bill that has been filed to potentially make online sportsbooks legal in Georgia. Key figures like Sen. Gloria Butler and Atlanta Braves President and CEO Derek Schiller are co-sponsoring SB 386.

A constitutional amendment previously wasn’t required as the initial goal was to categorize sports betting as a lottery game.

However, now that SB 386 has passed through the State Senate on Feb. 1, 2024, a constitutional amendment will be necessary for legalization.

The bill would permit up to 16 operators in the state. Each operator would have to pay a $100,000 fee to apply as well as a 15% tax for adjusted gross income.

Support of Professional Sports Teams

Four of Georgia’s professional sports teams have joined together to create the Georgia Professional Sports Integrity Alliance (GPSIA), an industry coalition that is part of the push for legalized online sports betting in the state.

GPSIA members:

The Alliance does not benefit directly from legalized online sports betting (stadium subsidies, etc.), but, should online sports betting be legalized in Georgia, it doesn’t take much to envision the teams partnering with a betting company, similar to Washington Commanders’ partnership with FanDuel in Virginia. Such a scenario would be permitted under previous versions of sports betting legislation.

The Alliance’s public statements focus on the ability of legalized online sports betting to serve as a further way to engage their fan bases, “especially the next generation of fans.” Additionally, they support the requirement that betting companies use league data to settle in-game bets, which would be an additional revenue source for their respective sports leagues. 

PASPA

No description of efforts to legalize sports betting would be complete without a mention of PASPA. Passed by Congress in 1992, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), prohibited states from enacting laws that legalized sports betting. States that already had some form of legalized sports betting on the books (Delaware, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon) were exempt, and other states were allowed one year to pass their own laws related to sports betting. None did, and the nation went on with single-game sports betting only being offered in Nevada. Little changed while PASPA was active. Notably, the legislation did not ban sports betting federally; it only prevented states from legalizing sports betting on their own. 

New Jersey Leads the Way

In 2012, legislative leaders in New Jersey wanted to legalize sports betting in order to help the ailing casinos in Atlantic City. They envisioned packed casino sportsbooks and overflowing state coffers, so they passed a law legalizing sports betting. The major sports leagues were vehemently opposed to any sort of legalization at the time, and took the state to court. The state lost in court several times, and the prospects for sportsbooks in New Jersey and other states looked dim. But, in a highly unexpected move, in 2017 the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case. 

Supreme Court Weighs In

In June 2018, the Supreme Court, by a 6-3 vote, ruled that PASPA unconstitutionally prevented states from legalizing sports betting, and struck down the law. This meant that states were free to legalize and regulate sports betting in whatever way they see fit. A game-changing victory for supporters of legalized sports betting! Within weeks of the Supreme Court decision, retail casinos in a few states, including New Jersey and Mississippi, began accepting wagers on sporting events. 

Since PASPA was struck down, each state has taken a different approach to sports betting, with some authorizing mobile and retail betting, some just mobile, some just retail, and others remaining opposed to any expansion of gambling whatsoever. Mobile betting, by far the preferred option of most sports bettors, is now legal, regulated and available in more than a dozen states. 

Possible Georgia Betting Rules

Let’s say that online sports betting does make it to Georgia next year. What would that mean for bettors? Here are some guidelines included in previous versions of bills that would legalize sports betting:

21+

No one under the age of 21 will be allowed to bet on sports in Georgia. Most states have a 21+ age requirement, but a few allow those 18 and older to bet on sports, similar to buying lottery tickets. 

Online-only betting

Since there are no casinos in Georgia, if sports betting is legalized it will be online-only, similar to Tennessee.

Plenty of choices

It has been proposed in the past that there could be six or more sports betting companies in the state, regulated by the Georgia Lottery Corporation. This means that bettors would have options on who they bet with.

Remote registration

This may seem obvious, but registration for an online betting account will be remote only. You can sign up for your mobile account right from your desktop computer or smartphone. Some states, most notably Nevada, still require in-person registration for online betting, but most states allow bettors to register online. 

You must be in Georgia to bet

Only wagers placed from inside the state of Georgia will be accepted. You don’t have to be a Georgia resident to open an account or even place a bet, but you do have to physically be there to place a wager. Geolocation software and/or location tracking software will be required to prove you are actually in the state. This is standard industry practice, and a relatively seamless process. Mobile devices have built-in GPS chips, and computer users can satisfy the requirement with a quick download.

Self-exclusion

Betting operators will be required to allow customers to restrict themselves from betting, including limits on amounts wagered, and must take reasonable steps to prevent those customers from placing wagers. 

Potential Markets and Bet Types

A market is an available bet posted on a sportsbook. Examples include spread bets, over/under, moneyline, and even bets on individual player performance. These bets are also known as markets. For a single Falcons or Braves game there could be dozens of markets, depending on the game and the sportsbook. Large events like the Super Bowl have hundreds of markets. When/if online sports betting goes live in Georgia, expect to have access to betting markets in every major sport worldwide. 

The full range of bet types will be determined by the Lottery Corporation, but it is likely that the following bet types (and potentially more) will be available to Georgia bettors should online sports betting be legalized. 

Mobile Partners

Of course, it remains to be seen which sportsbook operators will open up shop in Georgia when/if sports betting is legalized there. But we can speculate a bit, can’t we? Since neighboring Tennessee is online-only with no retail casinos in the state, many of the same operators may expand to Georgia. Likely candidates include:

Online Banking Options

Georgia sports bettors will have options to choose from when it comes to deposits and withdrawals. Common methods, many of which are specifically referenced in H.B. 86, include:

Why Bet with a Legal Online Sportsbook?

Since sports betting is not legal in Georgia, many Georgians are likely using an offshore sportsbook or local bookie to wager on games. There are many reasons why betting with a legal sportsbook is a better option. Let’s go over a few of the most important.

Security

A legal sportsbook is regulated by the state(s) in which it operates. These states have strict security and safety protocols in place that ensure deposits are secure. You don’t have to worry about whether you will be able to access your funds in a timely manner. 

Promotions

In most states, legal sportsbooks are competing for your business. This means that they often offer generous promotions to entice new customers to sign up for their service. This benefits you, the new bettor. Two popular promotions include a “risk-free bet” that refunds your first wager if it loses, and a deposit match bonus that can be worth hundreds. With legislation mentioning room for at least six operators, there should be plenty of value around.

Mobility

Every sportsbook operator offers a mobile version of their online service. But being able to securely bet anywhere in the state in which you live or are visiting is something offshore books can’t offer. Legal sportsbooks use geofencing technology to ensure you can only bet in the state in which the sportsbook operates. This ensures that your online account is regulated so that your money is protected. 

Betting Options

As mentioned, in most states, legal sportsbooks are competing for your business. This means that they are incentivized to get creative and offer appealing betting options. One book may offer a lower vig while another has more options for in-game betting. Yet another book may be known for its expansive selection of lesser-known sports. You can pick the book that most fits what you are looking for, knowing that your money is secure and the bets you make are reliable and regulated.

Loyalty Programs

Some sportsbooks offer loyalty programs similar to casino rewards structures. Prominent brick-and-mortar brands that offer sports betting, such as Golden Nugget and Hard Rock, are more likely to have them. Linking their online loyalty program to their retail set up is a natural fit. Stand-alone online sportsbooks are less likely to have a loyalty program, though they may offer value in different ways – such as odds boosts.

Customer Support

You can probably reach someone at an offshore casino if you need assistance, but what incentive do they have to resolve your problem? They already have your money and aren’t regulated by any entity here in the United States. Legal sportsbooks have every motivation to help you with any issues related to your account, not least because they are regulated. If you are not satisfied with your customer experience, you can take your bankroll to another legal online sportsbook as easily as choosing to shop at Target instead of Amazon. This is not true with offshore sportsbooks.  

FAQ

When will I be able to bet on sports in Georgia?
Right now, the earliest anyone could place a legal wager in Georgia is 2024. Even that seems like a long shot, with opponents of legal wagering having significant influence in the legislature. However, the filing of SB 386 has the potential to be a successful venture because the attempt is to denote sports betting as a lottery game.

Let’s say sports betting is legalized in 2024. What then?
After the rules and regulations are finalized by the lottery corporation, sports betting operators will be able to apply for a license to operate in the state. Once their licenses are approved, they will be open for (virtual) business. You will be able to choose the sportsbook that best fits what you are looking for and will soon be placing wagers from anywhere in the state. Your bets will be both safe and secure, and your deposits and payouts will be protected.

What types of bets will I be able to make?
Most likely, you will be able to bet on almost every sports league in the world. Australian Rules Football? You can bet on it. Cricket? You can bet on it. Darts? You can bet on it. Most large sportsbooks have betting markets available in major sports worldwide. Of course, you can bet on all the American sports (aside from college sports, possibly).