- Georgia’s House Committee on Higher Education heard a resolution to amend the state constitution to allow sports betting
- Sen. Bill Cowsert’s (R-16) resolution will leave sports betting’s final fate to state voters
- The committee members want changes to revenue disbursements
Georgia voters should have a say in major policy shifts, a Georgia Senator said yesterday, and the decision to legalize sports betting should be no different.
The Georgia House Committee on Higher Education considered Sen. Bill Cowsert’s (R-16) SR 579 on Monday to require a constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting. The resolution is part of an overall package to legalize sports betting in the state.
“When you have this major of a policy shift, the public should be invited in to vote on this,” Cowsert said.
‘Democracy Is a Powerful Thing’
The Georgia Senate passed SR 579 in later February by a 41-12 vote, surpassing the required three-fifths majority. If approved by the House with a three-fifths majority, the resolution will require Georgia voters to approve a constitutional amendment in the November general election to legalize sports betting.
Cowsert proposed an amendment to SB 386 bill to require sports betting be legalized through a constitutional amendment when it was voted on by the Senate in early February. As it was introduced by Sen. Clint Dixon (R-45), it did not require an amendment. It would have classified sports betting as a new lottery game and required it to be regulated entirely by the Georgia Lottery.
Dixon’s bill was heard by the committee last week.
By legalizing sports betting through a constitutional amendment, it frees up the state to determine what sports betting tax revenues can support. All lottery revenues have to fund HOPE Scholarships and pre-kindergarten programs in the state
The last time Georgia residents had a say on such an expansion of new gaming was in 1992 when voters approved an amendment to allow a lottery in the state. Cowsert said sports betting’s outcome should be no different.
“Democracy is a pretty powerful thing. I don’t think you can rightly criticize allowing the citizens of this state to decide what they do and do not want. They might make a bad choice, they might make a good choice, but it’s not always appropriate for us to dictate our will on them, especially with huge policy issues like this,” he said.
Possible Amendments to Tax Revenue Disbursements
The original bill would have funneled nearly all sports betting tax revenues into the Georgia Lottery, which would have been used to fund HOPE Scholarships and pre-kindergarten programs in the state. Cowsert filed his resolution with the following sports betting tax revenue disbursements:
- 80% into the Educational Opportunity Fund. The fund will support pre-kindergarten programs in the state. Once fully funded, the remaining revenues will go to the HOPE scholarships
- 15% to a responsible gaming fund
- 5% to a Sports Promotion Fund to attract major sporting events to the state
Committee Chairman Rep. Chuck Martin (R-49) objected to the sports promotion fund, which would be used to attract events such as the Super Bowl, the College Football Playoffs, and FIFA World Cup to the state. He said additional funding should be used to combat problem gaming and addiction services in the state.
Cowsert stressed he was open to amending the revenue disbursements at the request of the committee.
Constituents in Favor of Sports Betting
Rep. Rhonda Burnough (D-77), noted she would likely not be supporting the resolution and asked why so much energy was being placed into legalizing sports betting. The monetary benefits will be minimal for the state, she said, and would provide no benefits for her district.
Why should the state consider legalized sports betting? Cowsert said residents have been betting on sports for decades and constituents have clamored for its legalization for the past several years.
“Constituents want this. The sports teams want it. Many other states are already doing this because it’s so popular in American culture, and particularly in the SEC. I’m not saying that jokingly. We’ve been betting on college football and professional football in our state, in our region, for generations,” he said.
Rep. Marcus Wiedower (R-121) agreed and said sports betting has been one of the most talked about pieces of legislation in his district and among his constituents since last year. Wiedower introduced his own sports betting legislation in 2023.
“You start talking about constituents…I’ve gotten more emails for sports betting than I have against it since last year. That’s just a fact.”
Georgia Senator Jeff Mullis has recently proposed a bill that would give state voters the final say on whether or not to legalize sports betting in Georgia. The bill, known as Senate Resolution 135, aims to amend the state constitution to allow for sports betting, but only if approved by a majority of voters in a statewide referendum.
Currently, sports betting is illegal in Georgia, but neighboring states like Tennessee and Florida have already legalized it. Senator Mullis believes that legalizing sports betting in Georgia could bring in much-needed revenue for the state, as well as create new jobs and boost tourism.
If the bill is passed, Georgia would join a growing number of states that have legalized sports betting in recent years. According to the American Gaming Association, 25 states and Washington D.C. have already legalized sports betting in some form.
Opponents of the bill argue that legalizing sports betting could lead to an increase in problem gambling and addiction. They also worry about the potential for corruption and match-fixing in sports.
However, Senator Mullis has emphasized that the bill includes provisions to address these concerns, such as strict regulations and oversight to prevent problem gambling and ensure the integrity of sports competitions.
Overall, the proposal to give state voters the final say on sports betting in Georgia has sparked a heated debate among lawmakers, stakeholders, and residents. As the bill makes its way through the legislative process, it will be interesting to see whether Georgia ultimately decides to legalize sports betting or not.
