Georgia sports betting bill headed for Senate vote after passing through committee
SB 57 would allow Peach State to legalize online wagering without constitutional amendment
Regulated sports betting has taken another step closer to becoming a reality in Georgia, with a Senate committee on February 20 greenlighting a bill that would legalize both retail and online wagering in the state.
The Senate Economic Development Committee approved SB 57 by an 8-1 vote, setting the stage for a full Senate vote on the legislation.
The Senate bill, which would allow for up to 18 mobile sports betting licenses while also sanctioning fixed-odds horseracing, classifies sports betting as a lottery game. That framing is key, as it would enable Georgia to legalize online wagering without a constitutional amendment, which is required for any expansion of gambling in the state.
Other components of SB 57 include a 20% tax on adjusted gross income, with all proceeds going to the Georgia Lottery to benefit education.
In addition to a competitive online market, SB 57 also allows for in-person betting at both retail venues and via self-service kiosks that could be housed within local businesses and stadiums.
According to the bill’s chief sponsor, Senator Billy Hickman, legalized sports betting could generate up to $400m annually for the state while creating 8,500 jobs and $1bn in state economic impact.
The bill’s sports-betting-as-a-lottery-game framework has received backing from some powerful stakeholders – including former Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold D. Melton, who argued in its favor in a recent memo.
The next step for SB 57 will likely see it sent to the Rules Committee in advance of the full Senate vote, with the specific timeline still to be determined.