An encouraging start to the year
Proponents of legalizing online sports betting in Georgia are not easily discouraged and they are once again putting forth bills in the hope that 2024 will finally be the year. On Tuesday, the Senate Regulated Industries Committee approved Senate Bill 172 (SB 172), which would allow for statewide sports betting, by an 8-4 vote. It now moves on to the full Senate for debate.
will need two-thirds support in the Senate and House
As amending the state constitution would be necessary to allow sports betting through SB 172, the proposal will need two-thirds support in the Senate and House before going to a public referendum.
Opposing views
Other pro-sports betting advocates in Georgia believe that an amendment is not necessary. A group of professional sports teams and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce contend that the Georgia Lottery could look after sports betting without any constitutional changes.
Senator Bill Cowsert, the sponsor of SB 172, disagrees with this assertion, saying that a referendum is necessary, just like when voters approved the state lottery in 1992.
Georgia has long been a conservative state when it comes to gambling expansion
He is not afraid of pursuing a constitutional amendment, saying that for such a significant policy change “you ought to have the buy-in of both parties and the citizens on board.” Others are not confident that a two-thirds majority will be possible, as Georgia has long been a conservative state when it comes to gambling expansion.
A lot up in the air
Another reason why Cowsert wants a constitutional amendment is because it would allow the state to use the resulting tax revenue as it sees fit. If sports betting went under the control of the lottery, all of the funds would be earmarked for pre-K classes and the HOPE Scholarship program.
This is not Cowsert’s first attempt to push through sports betting legislation. His bill last year fell eight votes short of the 38 that were necessary to progress it out of the Senate.
Other lawmakers in Georgia are in the process of creating their own sports betting legislation. One of the most ambitious proposals will come from Senator Brandon Beach who plans to introduce a bill that would allow sports betting, pari-mutuel wagering, and commercial casinos. He thinks this could generate as much as $900m each year for the state.
