Georgia's latest attempt to legalize online sports betting collapsed on Thursday when proposed legislation failed to reach the House floor before the crucial crossover deadline, despite clearing the Higher Education Committee and Rules Committee earlier that day.
House Resolution 450, sponsored by Rep. Marcus Wiedower (R-Watkinsville), would have given voters the opportunity to decide on legalizing sports betting through a November 2026 ballot measure. Its companion bill, House Bill 686, would have established a regulatory framework with a 24% tax rate on betting revenue, with proceeds supporting Georgia's universal pre-K program and HOPE scholarships.
"It came in late and I guess [lawmakers] just weren't there yet," said Rep. Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta), who chairs the Higher Education Committee. "We'll keep working with people and trying to do what's in the best interest of the state."
The legislation had undergone recent changes, including an increase in the proposed tax rate from 20% to 24% to generate more education funding. A separate attempt to add online casino gaming to the measure was defeated in committee.
Despite polls showing 63% of registered Georgia voters support legalized sports betting, the state continues to face substantial opposition from religious groups and legislators concerned about gambling addiction. The constitutional amendment would have required a two-thirds majority to pass, necessitating bipartisan support.
"I believe strongly – and Georgians by wide margins agree with me – that this change will not only bring in much needed revenue to educate our youngest learners but also provide consumer protections that don't exist in today's black market," Wiedower said in a statement after the bill's failure.
While Georgia remains on the sidelines, other states are making progress. Missouri is preparing to launch its sports betting market in fall 2025, becoming the 40th state to legalize the activity. Meanwhile, Texas has seen increasing momentum with a constitutional amendment filed that could put sports betting on its November 2025 ballot, and Hawaii recently achieved a historic milestone when a sports betting bill passed its House of Representatives for the first time.
Georgia presents a particularly attractive potential market for sportsbook operators. With over 11 million residents, it's the eighth most populous state in the nation. Geolocation company GeoComply estimates that more than 300,000 online betting accounts are registered to Georgia residents who currently travel to neighboring states like Tennessee and Florida to place legal wagers.
Industry experts project Georgia could generate more than $110 million annually in tax revenue from legal sports gambling, funds that currently flow to offshore betting sites or neighboring states.
With the 2025 legislative effort now effectively dead, supporters will likely regroup for another attempt in 2026, when they hope changing demographics and continued pressure from neighboring states with legal betting might finally tip the scales in their favor.