- A Georgia sports betting bill was filed on Friday, Feb. 28, in the House
- Bill allows for legalization of online sports betting in the state
- Georgia professional sports teams will be able to hold online sports betting licenses
New details have emerged for a Georgia sports betting bill filed by Rep Marcus Wiedower (R-119) on Friday, Feb. 28, in the House of Representatives.
Wiedower filed both HR 450 and HB 686, two pieces of legislation to legalize online sports betting in the state, which legalizes online sports betting and allows for up to 16 sports betting licenses.
His bills require a constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting and will allow Georgia professional sports franchises to hold licenses.
Georgia Sports Betting Bill Details
Wiedower’s legislation sets the state sports betting tax rate at 20% and earmarks funds for the Georgia Lottery HOPE Scholarship program and pre-kindergarten services.
However, the legislation notes that 15% of the first $150 million in sports betting tax revenues in a fiscal year must be used to prevent individuals from experiencing, and provide assistance to individuals who experience, addiction or other problems relating to betting or gambling.
This could result in a maximum funding of $22.5 million for problem gaming services in the state.
Applicants for an online sports betting license would have to pay a nonrefundable application fee of $100,000. If awarded a license, the full fee is set at $1 million.
The bill will allow for 16 total online sports betting licenses. The Georgia Lottery Corporation will automatically be awarded a license, and the remaining 15 will be earmarked as such:
- Five to Georgia professional sports teams
- One for an Augusta National Golf Course
- One for the PGA Tour
- One for Atlanta Motor Speedway
- Seven to be awarded by a public bidding process to online sports betting operators
Do or Die Week for Georgia Sports Betting
To have any chance at approval, Wiedower’s bill will have to be approved by the House of Representatives by the Thursday, March 6 crossover deadline and sent to the Senate.
Neither piece of legislation has yet been read on the House floor or assigned to a committee. It will likely be read and assigned a committee today.
If it is not moved over to the Senate, the legislation will dead for the session. However, even if it is approved in the House, interest in the Senate for legalized sports betting have not yet materialized.
The Georgia Senate Committee of Regulated Industries and Utilities last week roundly defeated SR 131, a proposed resolution to legalize sports betting and casino gaming in the state through a constitutional amendment.
The bill called for sports betting legalization through a constitutional amendment, which would have put the final approval up to state voters in a 2026 election.
The committee voted 8-2 (the numbers aren’t entirely clear, as it by a hand vote) to defeat the bill.
One bill remains in the Senate, but has yet to be heard in committee. Sen. Billy Hickman (R-4)introduced SB 208 last week, which seeks to legalize online sports betting in Georgia and allow the lottery to regulate the new form of gaming.
It seeks to legalize sports betting through a simple bill, not requiring a constitutional amendment.
The Georgia House recently introduced a sports betting bill that has sparked a lot of interest and debate among lawmakers and residents alike. The bill, known as HB 86, aims to legalize sports betting in the state and establish a framework for regulating and overseeing the industry.
Under the proposed legislation, sports betting would be allowed at licensed facilities such as casinos, racetracks, and online platforms. The bill also outlines the types of bets that would be permitted, including wagers on professional and collegiate sports events.
One of the key components of the bill is the establishment of a Georgia Gaming Commission, which would be responsible for issuing licenses to operators, enforcing regulations, and ensuring the integrity of sports betting in the state. The commission would also be tasked with implementing measures to protect consumers and prevent problem gambling.
In addition to regulating sports betting, HB 86 includes provisions for generating revenue from the industry. A portion of the proceeds from sports betting would be allocated to fund education, healthcare, and other public services in Georgia.
Supporters of the bill argue that legalizing sports betting would bring much-needed revenue to the state and create new job opportunities. They also believe that regulating the industry would help protect consumers from unscrupulous operators and ensure fair play in sports betting.
However, opponents of the bill have raised concerns about the potential social and economic impacts of legalizing sports betting. They worry that it could lead to an increase in problem gambling and addiction, as well as create negative social consequences.
Overall, the Georgia House sports betting bill is a complex piece of legislation that addresses many different aspects of the industry. As lawmakers continue to debate its merits and drawbacks, it will be interesting to see how the bill evolves and whether it ultimately becomes law.
