Is Sports Betting Legal in Georgia?

Current Legal Status

Sports betting in Georgia is completely prohibited under current state law. After the most recent legislative failure in 2024, residents of the Peach State continue to have no legal avenues for placing sports bets within state borders.

The only legal gambling options available to Georgians are the state lottery and charitable bingo. Casinos, poker, sports betting, and horse race betting all remain off-limits.

A History of Failed Attempts

Georgia’s journey toward legalized sports betting has been marked by repeated setbacks:

• 2020-2021: Early bills like S 403 and HB 86 attempted to introduce sports betting but failed to advance beyond committee stages. HB 86 notably proposed legalizing online sports betting while excluding college sports.
• 2022: Lawmakers floated the idea of a statewide referendum to let residents decide the issue directly. However, this referendum never materialized.
• 2023: Three separate bills (SB 57, HB 380, and SR 140) were introduced but quickly died without making significant legislative progress.
• 2024: This year seemed the most promising. Bill SB 386 gained substantial support in the Senate and appeared poised to finally legalize both online and retail sports betting in Georgia. Unfortunately, it failed in the House of Representatives, marking yet another disappointing end to legalization efforts.

What’s Blocking Progress?

Several obstacles have prevented Georgia from joining the growing number of states with legal sports betting:

Constitutional Questions

A major point of contention centers on whether legalizing sports betting requires a constitutional amendment. Georgia’s constitution currently prohibits most forms of gambling, and lawmakers disagree on whether existing regulations provide sufficient grounds for legalization or if constitutional changes are necessary.

Tax Revenue Allocation

While estimates suggest legal sports betting could generate between $100 and $140 million annually in tax revenue, legislators have struggled to agree on how these funds should be allocated. Proposed uses include pre-kindergarten education, teacher raises, and HOPE scholarships.

Public Opposition

Religious groups and conservative lawmakers have voiced strong opposition, frequently citing concerns about increased gambling addiction. A 2022 survey showed that only 45% of Georgia residents supported legalization.

The Cost of Inaction

Georgia’s failure to regulate sports betting comes with significant consequences:

Lost Tax Revenue

While neighboring states like Tennessee (legal since 2020) and North Carolina (legal since 2024) collect substantial tax revenue from sports betting, Georgia misses out on this potential income stream.

Thriving Black Market

Without legal options, Georgia residents often turn to offshore betting sites, which operate outside state oversight and offer no player protections. These unregulated operators increase addiction risks and make it harder for future legal operators to capture market share.

Economic Opportunity

Legalization would bring jobs and economic growth as major operators like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars establish operations in the state.

Legal Alternatives for Georgia Residents

While traditional sports betting remains prohibited, Georgians do have a few options:

• Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS): Despite occupying a legal gray area, DFS platforms like DraftKings, FanDuel, PrizePicks, Underdog Fantasy, and Betr operate in Georgia and offer their services to residents. No specific regulations govern DFS activities in the state, but these platforms continue to function without legal challenge.
• Betting in Neighboring States: Residents living near state borders can physically travel to Tennessee or North Carolina to place legal sports bets. However, geolocation technology prevents them from using these platforms once they return to Georgia.
• State Lottery: Georgia’s lottery has operated since 1992 and remains a legal gambling option.

What Does the Future Hold?

The outlook for sports betting in Georgia remains uncertain. The 2025 legislative session will almost certainly see renewed efforts to pass a sports betting bill, likely building on the framework of previous failed attempts.

Some political observers believe Georgia might follow Missouri’s 2025 example and put the question directly to voters through a referendum. If this happens, expect major operators to invest heavily in campaigns highlighting the economic benefits of legalization, while opponents mobilize around addiction and moral concerns.

At the earliest, legal sports betting could become a reality in Georgia by 2026, but only if lawmakers can resolve their constitutional disagreements, agree on tax revenue allocation, and either pass legislation or win voter approval through a referendum.

For now, Georgia residents must continue waiting while watching neighboring states reap the benefits of regulated sports betting.