Georgia lawmakers are making their strongest push yet to bring legal online sports betting to one of the last remaining holdouts in the Southeast. With the crucial March 6 crossover deadline looming, House Bill 686 and House Resolution 450 represent the state's most promising attempt to date at joining the 39 other states that have already embraced legal sports wagering.
The latest legislative effort, spearheaded by Rep. Marcus Wiedower (R-Watkinsville), has garnered remarkable bipartisan backing with 57 co-sponsors — 47 Republicans and 10 Democrats. This level of support significantly exceeds previous attempts, which have consistently passed the Senate but faltered in the House.
"We've never seen this level of support before in the House for this resolution, and it gives me great confidence of its success as we head into the final month of session," Wiedower stated. "We know from polling that Georgians overwhelmingly support legalization to increase education funding, and they deserve a say on the issue."
Co-sponsors include Rep. Matt Reeves (R-Duluth) and Rep. Stacey Evans (D-Atlanta), demonstrating the cross-party appeal of the initiative.
Georgia represents the largest potential sports betting market in the U.S. outside of California and Texas. If legalized, industry experts project it would become the sixth-largest sports betting market nationwide. This represents billions in wagers currently flowing to offshore operators and neighboring states like Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee, where legal digital betting options already exist.
The Peach State's lack of sports betting legislation has created a significant regulatory void, allowing unregulated offshore sportsbooks to freely operate without consumer protections or state oversight. This situation not only puts Georgia bettors at risk but also deprives the state of valuable tax revenue that could fund education and responsible gambling initiatives.
The proposed legislation focuses exclusively on digital sports betting, deliberately excluding casinos and other forms of gambling like horse and dog racing. The constitutional amendment would follow the same approval process used for establishing the Georgia Lottery and HOPE Scholarship:
The bills must secure a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate
If approved by the legislature, Georgia voters would decide the final outcome through a referendum in November 2026
If voters approve, implementation would begin by July 31, 2027
Senate President and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones has indicated that if Wiedower and his sponsors can navigate the bills through the House, the Senate will likely have the numbers to approve them.
While the July 31, 2027 date may disappoint Georgia sports fans, it is worth pointing out that most states launch well ahead of their deadlines. Missouri is the latest example, with legislator fighting to bump the launch date up from fall of 2025 to spring of 2025.
Georgia would likely launch as soon as licenses were awarded and regulators deemed the state ready to go.
The legislation envisions a competitive marketplace regulated by the Georgia Lottery Corporation, which would also have the authority to operate its own digital betting platform. The bills allow for 16 total licenses:
Seven stand-alone licenses for operators
Nine licenses allocated to Georgia sports entities, including the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta United FC, Augusta National Golf Club, and others
This structure ensures that both national operators and local sports institutions can participate in the market, creating a diverse and competitive environment for bettors.
Supporters highlight that the estimated $150 million in annual tax revenue would primarily benefit Georgia's education system, with specific allocations for:
Pre-K education programs
The HOPE Scholarship
Responsible gambling initiatives
Rep. Stacey Evans emphasized the educational benefits: "The money here will flow to Pre-K directly, Pre-K will be the winner here. And we know that we've got too many 4-year-olds on waiting lists trying to get into the programs."
The bills propose a 20% tax on adjusted gross revenue, with 15% of the first $150 million in tax dollars directed to problem and responsible gambling initiatives, and the remaining 85% funding educational projects.
Unlike the current unregulated environment, the legislation includes substantial consumer protection and responsible gambling provisions:
Operators would be required to implement comprehensive responsible gambling programs
The 1-800-GAMBLER helpline would be prominently displayed on all platforms
The Georgia Lottery would have authority to set betting limits for at-risk players
Operators must provide three levels of intervention for problem gamblers:
Educational materials
Video tutorials on responsible gambling
Access to responsible gambling professionals
Despite growing support, opposition persists, particularly from the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. Mike Griffin, representing the organization, has been vocal in his opposition: "It's going to be putting gasoline on a dumpster fire that's already burning in our state. Why do we want to make it worse?"
However, supporters counter that regulated sports betting would bring existing underground activity into a controlled environment with proper consumer safeguards.
The fate of online sports betting in Georgia now hinges on whether HB 686 and HR 450 can clear the House before the March 6 crossover deadline. If successful, the Senate appears prepared to consider the legislation, potentially giving Georgia voters their first opportunity to decide on legal sports wagering in 2026.
With neighboring states already reaping the economic benefits of regulated sports betting, Georgia stands at a crossroads. The unprecedented bipartisan support suggests this may finally be the year the Peach State takes a significant step toward joining the majority of states that have embraced legal, regulated sports betting.