Georgia lawmakers are once again pushing for the legalization of sports betting and casino gambling, with a newly proposed resolution that could allow voters to decide on the matter in 2026. Senate Resolution 131 (SR 131), proposed by four Republican state senators, aims to amend the state constitution to allow regulated gambling, while establishing a regulatory body to oversee the industry.
Expected Revenue and Legislative Details:
According to 13WMAZ, the proposers—Senators Carden Summers, Billy Hickman, Brandon Beach, and Lee Anderson—have reintroduced a measure similar to past efforts that failed to gain support. If approved, the resolution would authorize at least eight casino licenses and impose a 20% tax on gambling revenues, with the proceeds going to the newly established Georgia Gambling Revenue Fund.
The proposal is part of Georgia's ongoing struggle with unregulated sports betting. Reports indicate that thousands of residents have already gambled through unauthorized means or by crossing into states where gambling is legal.
Experts say that a fully regulated sports betting market in Georgia could generate over $100 million in tax revenue annually. Cybersecurity company GeoComply, which tracks online gambling activity, found that over 300,000 gambling accounts were accessed within Georgia during the recent NFL season. Additionally, a significant number of residents were found to travel to Tennessee for legal betting.
GeoComply senior advisor John Pappas stated: "It is estimated that in a mature legal market in Georgia, the state could generate tax revenues of approximately $112 million to $115 million annually."
Representative Marcus Wiedower, a major advocate for legalization, is leading the push for a constitutional amendment that would allow only online sports betting—not including physical casinos, racetracks, or other live betting options. According to his proposal, a portion of the gambling revenue would be directly used to fund Georgia's education lottery, with up to $20 million annually allocated to responsible gambling programs.
SR 131 builds on these ideas, aiming to establish the Georgia Gambling Commission to regulate operations and ensure fair oversight of gambling activities. The first $2 billion in tax revenue would be distributed to counties across Georgia, with more funds allocated once the $5 billion milestone is reached. Additionally, 5% of all revenue exceeding this amount would be allocated to gambling addiction prevention and treatment programs.
Opposition and Challenges to the Bill:
Despite growing public interest in gambling legalization, Georgia has historically been opposed to the expansion of the gambling industry. Religious groups and anti-gambling organizations remain strong opponents of these efforts.
Mike Griffin, a public affairs representative for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, warned: "We will see it exacerbate the situation. It will increase addiction phenomena, and we have already seen addiction rates increase suicide rates."
While opponents acknowledge that illegal gambling is widespread, they argue that this is not a reason to legalize gambling. According to Fox 5 Atlanta, Griffin added: "Only God knows what illegal things are happening in our state. These things do not need to be legalized."
Georgia has been attempting to legalize sports betting since 2019, but each attempt has faced legislative hurdles. In 2024, although approved by the Senate, a similar bill failed to pass in the House. SR 131 follows previous proposals, such as SR 538, which attempted to legalize casinos and sports betting but was ultimately blocked before a vote.
The latest resolution must be passed by the Georgia Senate by March 6, 2025, and receive full legislative approval by April 4, 2025. If successful, the measure will be placed on the November 2026 ballot for voter consideration.
Supporters believe that growing momentum, coupled with pressure from neighboring states like Tennessee and North Carolina—both of which have thriving legal sports betting industries—might eventually persuade Georgia lawmakers to approve the measure. If voters support the initiative, legal sports betting and casino gaming could be launched in 2027, making Georgia a competitive player in the U.S. gambling industry.
