Is Sports Betting Legal in Georgia?

Understanding Georgia Sports Betting Laws

Sports betting in Georgia is not legal despite numerous efforts by lawmakers to change this. Residents of Georgia seem to express interest in legal sports betting and support the idea of regulating this area, but legislators have so far failed to pass the appropriate laws.

The last attempt took place in March 2024, when two bills aimed at legalizing sports betting did not receive approval in both houses of parliament.

Historical Context

Over the past few years, several attempts have been made to change the legal status of sports betting in Georgia. In 2020, a group of senators, referring to the law in force in Tennessee, prepared bill S 403, which failed at the committee stage.

A year later, another bill, HB 86, was introduced by Ron Stephens. It proposed the legalization of online sports betting, excluding college sports. The Senate presented its own proposal, SB 142, but neither reached a more advanced legislative stage.

In 2022, the idea emerged to hold a statewide referendum on sports betting and start working on regulations after the idea gained support among residents. Again, efforts came to nothing, and the referendum never took place.

The year 2023 brought as many as three sports betting bills: SB 57, HB 380, and SR 140. However, each had a short lifespan and did not impact Georgia’s legislative landscape. It seemed that 2024 might be a breakthrough in this matter.

Work on the bill had a more advanced character, and bill SB 386 even gained support among Senate members. There was a possibility that online and retail sports betting would finally be legalized in Georgia. However, the bill ultimately failed in the House of Representatives, and Georgia once again ends 2024 without legal sports betting.

Current Legal Framework

Despite successive attempts to change this state of affairs, sports betting in Georgia remains completely illegal. After the failure of SB 386, the next chance to change the regulations will come during the legislative session in 2025. This means that sports betting in Georgia could become legal at the earliest a year later, in 2026.

Importantly, some lawmakers believe that legalizing sports betting would require a constitutional amendment, which currently prohibits most forms of gambling. On the other hand, there is an argument that existing regulations provide sufficient grounds to legalize sports betting without the need to amend the constitution.

Certainly, this topic will remain a point of contention between proponents and opponents of legal sports betting in Georgia.

For now, residents of the state have quite limited options when it comes to gambling. Due to constitutional provisions, the only legal forms of gambling in Georgia are the state lottery and charitable bingo. Casinos, poker, sports betting, and horse race betting remain illegal.

Online Sports Betting in Georgia

Just like retail sports betting, online sports betting is illegal in Georgia. Despite widely discussed losses resulting from the lack of regulation in this area, lawmakers have still failed to agree on the final shape of a bill regulating sports betting.

Nevertheless, many experts believe that legalizing sports betting in Georgia is a matter of time. They argue that the growing popularity of sports betting throughout the United States, as well as the potential financial benefits for the state, will eventually convince legislators to change the law.

Due to the lack of legal online sports betting, Georgia has to deal with the absence of additional tax revenues that are benefiting neighboring states. This also fuels the black market, as players, lacking legal options to place sports bets, decide to use offshore sites.

Offshore Betting Sites

Offshore sites remain a threat to players in every state, but residents of states that have not yet legalized sports betting are particularly vulnerable to their influence.

Offshore operators can easily reach and encourage their services to customers who do not have alternative and legal options for using sports betting.

This is a serious problem that every market must face. Very often, illegal operators do not provide adequate protection to players, exposing them to danger and increasing the risk of addiction.

Additionally, offshore operators harm the state and the potentially future regulated market. The longer sports betting in Georgia remains unregulated, the more players offshore operators will be able to attract, and the harder it will be in the future for legal commercial operators to regain those players.

Daily Fantasy Sports

The legal status of Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) platforms in Georgia is not unequivocal. On the one hand, platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel operate in the state and offer their services to Georgia residents; on the other hand, there are no specific regulations governing DFS activities in Georgia.

The legality of DFS has been questioned in the past in the state, but no regulations have ever been adopted that would explicitly prohibit conducting such activities.

Residents of Georgia can use the services of several DFS operators, including DraftKings, FanDuel, PrizePicks, Underdog Fantasy, and Betr.

Attempts to Legalize Sports Betting in Georgia

The process of regulating sports betting in Georgia is dragging on, and lawmakers year after year cannot reach an agreement on the final shape of the document defining the operations of commercial operators.

Among the obstacles are, among others, the previously mentioned misunderstandings regarding the interpretation of the state constitution. Some believe that legalization of betting will require constitutional changes, others that they are not necessary at all.

Economic Considerations

Legalizing sports betting in Georgia would bring many benefits. The state would address an area that has not been regulated so far and could reap benefits in the form of taxes.

Estimates of annual tax revenues range from $100 to $140 million. The Sports Betting Alliance, which brings together the largest commercial operators, believes that legal sports betting would provide even $140 million annually in state budget revenues from taxes.

Potential tax revenues are, however, another topic that has divided lawmakers. There is still no agreement on how these additional revenues would be allocated and what exactly they would be spent on. Goals discussed in Georgia include pre-kindergarten education, teacher raises, and HOPE scholarships.

Legal changes, in addition to higher tax revenues, could also generally impact economic growth, due to the fact that the entry of commercial operators into the state would involve creating additional jobs.

Public Opinion

It seems that in the face of the increasingly widespread legalization of sports betting, public opinion in Georgia seems to be slowly leaning towards the idea of regulating this area.

Nevertheless, opposition remains strong and vocal. It comes primarily from religious groups and conservative lawmakers, who often raise the issue of a potential increase in the percentage of people addicted to gambling.

It’s hard to say whether support for betting in Georgia is currently strong enough that, in the event of a referendum, residents would support this idea. A 2022 survey shows that only 45% of Georgia residents were in favor of legalization.

The Future of Sports Betting in Georgia

The future of sports betting in Georgia remains uncertain, and the failure of previous legalization attempts does not inspire optimism. Although it seemed that in 2024 everything was already heading in the right direction, ultimately support was lacking in the House of Representatives.

It is certain that during the legislative session in 2025, this issue will be raised again, and we will most likely see another bill that will strongly be based on previous ones that did not gain sufficient support.

It cannot be ruled out that the decision will be directly handed over to the residents, and Georgia will decide to hold a referendum on this matter. We will probably then witness events similar to those we observed in Missouri in 2025.

Commercial operators will invest in a campaign aimed at presenting residents with the benefits of legal sports betting. It cannot be excluded that opponents will also organize and launch an anti-betting campaign.

Since legalization would attract renowned bookmakers to Georgia, such as FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, as well as newer brands like ESPN BET and Fanatics Sportsbook, it can be expected that support for the initiative would be really strong.

However, achieving a final consensus in the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as convincing public opinion of the benefits of legalizing this form of entertainment, will be crucial.

How to Bet on Sports Legally in Georgia

Unfortunately, betting on sports in Georgia is still illegal, and players are hard-pressed to find legal options to place bets both online and in person.

Participating in illegal gambling in Georgia is a crime and can result in fines or even imprisonment. Operating an illegal gambling business carries even harsher penalties.

Nevertheless, players, especially those living on the outskirts of the state, often decide to take advantage of the alternative option of placing a bet from the territory of Tennessee or North Carolina, where sports betting was legalized in 2020 and 2024, respectively.

Placing bets with operators available in these states is, however, unavailable from the territory of Georgia due to geolocation services used by operators. Physical presence in a jurisdiction where sports betting is legal is therefore necessary.

Alternative Gambling Options

Residents of Georgia who want to place bets do have a few legal alternatives at their disposal, including Daily Fantasy Sports and social betting platforms. Among the options for legal gambling is also the state lottery, which has been providing its services since 1992.

DFS Platforms in Georgia

Despite the somewhat unclear legal status, several DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports) operators function in Georgia:

• DraftKings: One of the largest DFS platforms in the USA, offering a wide selection of games and tournaments.
• FanDuel: Like DraftKings, FanDuel is a market leader in DFS, enjoying great popularity in Georgia.
• PrizePicks: This platform stands out with a simple game format where users choose “more” or “less” for player statistics.
• Underdog Fantasy: This platform specializes in games of the “peer-to-peer” type.
• Betr: Focuses on mobile games and also offers a “peer-to-peer” format.
• ParlayPlay: Available in over 20 states, including Georgia. Offers “pick’em” games where users choose “more” or “less” for player statistics.

The legal status of DFS was discussed again in 2024, but as with sports betting, no unequivocal solution was achieved.

Georgia Lottery

The state lottery in Georgia (Georgia Lottery) was established in November 1992 after the approval of a constitutional amendment. Proceeds from the lottery are allocated to fund public education in Georgia.

The lottery offers a variety of games, including weekly “pick ’em” games, daily games, and scratch-offs. Georgia Lottery also participates in popular multi-state games like Mega Millions and Powerball. The lottery allows the purchase of tickets online.

The Georgia state lottery remains the only legal source of gambling revenue for the state.

FAQs About Georgia Sports Betting

Is online sports betting legal in Georgia?

No, online sports betting is illegal in Georgia. Using offshore sites is risky and not recommended.

Are daily fantasy sports legal in Georgia?

Daily fantasy sports operate in a legal gray area but are accessible to Georgia residents.

What forms of gambling are legal in Georgia?

The Georgia Lottery and charitable gaming are legal.

When might sports betting become legal in Georgia?

While there is growing support, it is uncertain when sports betting will be legalized. Legislative efforts continue.

Residents interested in sports wagering should stay informed about legal developments and, in the meantime, consider legal alternatives like the Georgia Lottery or daily fantasy sports.