On election day, Missouri became the 39th state in the country to legalize sports betting. Georgia remains one of the 11 that still outlaws the activity. This is shortsighted.
In the next seven years, Georgia will host the College Football Playoff National Championship, World Cup games, the Super Bowl and an NCAA Final Four. Our stubbornness to legalize this wildly popular activity is not only forgoing millions of dollars in tax revenue, but also propping up shady offshore betting sites that have zero protections to prevent minors from gambling, have no problem-betting resources and might not even pay winners.
Even though sports betting is illegal in Georgia, Google search data shows it is extremely popular.
