Georgia is taking a closer look at legalizing sports betting to help fund programs like the HOPE Scholarship and K-12 education. 2 House committee vote moved the option further. Apr 17, 2020 No, sports betting in Georgia is not legal. Sports betting in Georgia Republican State Senator Burt Jones filed a bill earlier in 2020 which would authorize the Georgia Lottery to manage online. Fantasy sports betting and Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is something of a grey area but many Georgia residents already gamble with fantasy sports sites with no problems. Although sports betting in the state is technically illegal, fantasy sportsbooks argue that betting on fantasy sports is a game of skill. Georgia Sports Betting Could Gain Traffic From Florida And Other Neighbors Georgia is uniquely placed within the country. According to a fact sheet from the Hartsfield-Jackson, Atlanta airport, they are located within a two-hour plane ride from80% of the US population.

If you’re a die-hard gambler, Georgia may not be the state for you. The Peach State have some of the strictest laws against gambling in general, much less sports betting.

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned on May 14, 2018 allowing each state in the country to propose and create their own laws and regulations for sports betting.

However, very little gambling currently takes place in Georgia right now. Gambling activities are currently limited to the state lottery and Powerball, plus charitable raffles. Not even bingo or pull tab tickets are legal right now. If you’re willing to take to the Eastern shores, the Emerald Princess Casino is the state’s only cruise ship casino and even then, still can only offer slot machines.

Maybe the one bright spot for Georgia sports bettors is that like many states, while there is no law allowing online betting, there is also no law against it either. This means Georgians are able to play daily fantasy games on sites like DraftKings and FanDuel.

Georgians living in the southern portion of the state are very limited and would have to travel to a neighboring state just to find a casino, though without sports betting, as Florida, South Carolina and Alabama are also yet to legalize. Though northern residents can take advantage of the legalized sports betting options in both Tennessee and North Carolina.

When Will Online Sports Betting Be Legal in Georgia?

The Peach State could be one of the states furthest away from introducing sports betting. The state of Georgia does not even have any physical casinos right now, though a current bill has been proposed which would permit the building of two casinos in the future. However, so strict are the laws in Georgia, that the bill refers to the locations as “destination resorts” as opposed to casinos.

Even such events like horse and greyhound racing are prohibited, which is very rare across the United States.

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has long been opposed to additional gambling in the state, but has at the very least stated he’s open to further discussion. Not wanting sports betting to overtake the state lottery and a heavy tax on casino operators are still big stumbling blocks.

However, there is support for sports betting in the state with several major sports teams expressing their support, and polls showing a favorable appetite among voters. Earlier legislation had also been proposed in 2019 to allow for legalized sports betting in Georgia, but did not gain momentum. Further bills expired after Crossover Day back on March 12, 2020. Gambling may very well make it onto the ballet in November with further bills, however, some legislators are against the idea simply because they can’t agree on where to direct the funds from such an endeavour.

Georgia is facing a steep budget shortfall and discussions around sports betting and gambling in general could very well be revisited. It’s estimated that gaming in general could create around $500 million in additional revenue for the state. But in a state that has such a long history of being anti-gambling, and one that would likely require a constitutional amendment through a referendum, plus a vote on whether residents want a casino in their city or county, that day may still be very far away.

States With Legal Sports Betting

Georgia Sports Betting FAQs

Will Georgia legalize sports gambling?

A Republican senator filed legislation that would legalize online sports betting in Georgia. The goal is to expand gambling through the state lottery system without requiring a constitutional amendment.

Is DraftKings legal in Georgia?

DraftKings is allowed to be played in Georgia as it is considered a game of skill.

How much money was gambled illegally in Georgia in 2019?

It’s estimated that $1.5 billion was wagered illegally in Georgia in 2019.

If you’re a die-hard gambler, Georgia may not be the state for you. The Peach State have some of the strictest laws against gambling in general, much less sports betting.

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned on May 14, 2018 allowing each state in the country to propose and create their own laws and regulations for sports betting.

However, very little gambling currently takes place in Georgia right now. Gambling activities are currently limited to the state lottery and Powerball, plus charitable raffles. Not even bingo or pull tab tickets are legal right now. If you’re willing to take to the Eastern shores, the Emerald Princess Casino is the state’s only cruise ship casino and even then, still can only offer slot machines.

Maybe the one bright spot for Georgia sports bettors is that like many states, while there is no law allowing online betting, there is also no law against it either. This means Georgians are able to play daily fantasy games on sites like DraftKings and FanDuel.

Georgians living in the southern portion of the state are very limited and would have to travel to a neighboring state just to find a casino, though without sports betting, as Florida, South Carolina and Alabama are also yet to legalize. Though northern residents can take advantage of the legalized sports betting options in both Tennessee and North Carolina.

When Will Online Sports Betting Be Legal in Georgia?

The Peach State could be one of the states furthest away from introducing sports betting. The state of Georgia does not even have any physical casinos right now, though a current bill has been proposed which would permit the building of two casinos in the future. However, so strict are the laws in Georgia, that the bill refers to the locations as “destination resorts” as opposed to casinos.

Even such events like horse and greyhound racing are prohibited, which is very rare across the United States.

Ga Sports Betting Sports

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has long been opposed to additional gambling in the state, but has at the very least stated he’s open to further discussion. Not wanting sports betting to overtake the state lottery and a heavy tax on casino operators are still big stumbling blocks.

However, there is support for sports betting in the state with several major sports teams expressing their support, and polls showing a favorable appetite among voters. Earlier legislation had also been proposed in 2019 to allow for legalized sports betting in Georgia, but did not gain momentum. Further bills expired after Crossover Day back on March 12, 2020. Gambling may very well make it onto the ballet in November with further bills, however, some legislators are against the idea simply because they can’t agree on where to direct the funds from such an endeavour.

Georgia is facing a steep budget shortfall and discussions around sports betting and gambling in general could very well be revisited. It’s estimated that gaming in general could create around $500 million in additional revenue for the state. But in a state that has such a long history of being anti-gambling, and one that would likely require a constitutional amendment through a referendum, plus a vote on whether residents want a casino in their city or county, that day may still be very far away.

Georgia Sports Betting FAQs

Will Georgia legalize sports gambling?

A Republican senator filed legislation that would legalize online sports betting in Georgia. The goal is to expand gambling through the state lottery system without requiring a constitutional amendment.

Is DraftKings legal in Georgia?

DraftKings is allowed to be played in Georgia as it is considered a game of skill.

How much money was gambled illegally in Georgia in 2019?

It’s estimated that $1.5 billion was wagered illegally in Georgia in 2019.