In January, Georgia lawmakers will again consider bills that would legalize casinos, parimutuel betting on horseracing and sports betting. Gambling legislation gained some momentum in the 2021 session, but no bills made it past both chambers.
In March, the Senate passed Senate Resolution 135, calling for a statewide referendum to legalize sports betting. It didn’t reach the House floor, but it was the first time a gambling bill made it through either chamber.
State Rep. Ron Stephens said, “It looks more encouraging than ever.” Stephens introduced a standalone sports betting bill during this year’s legislative session but now supports combining sports betting, casinos and horseracing into a single constitutional amendment to put before Georgia voters. “Let the people decide: Do we want to gamble or do we not? That’s the cleanest way to do it.”
State Rep. Alan Powell agrees with Stephens’ approach rather than legalizing only sports betting, as favored by a coalition of Atlanta’s pro sports teams including the Braves, Falcons, Hawks and Atlanta United. Powell said, “They want folks sitting in stadiums betting on their phones. There are no jobs created. There’s a right way and a wrong way to do this.” He said app-based sports betting wouldn’t generate the gambling revenue brick-and-mortar casinos could produce.
Casino operators agree and are making a big push for Georgia casinos. At least 32 paid lobbyists are working to pass legalized gambling in the state, according to Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission reports. The lobbyists work for 10 gaming operators, including Caesars Entertainment, Hard Rock, Wynn Resorts and Bally’s. They and other casino gambling supporters said Georgia is losing millions in tax revenue and billions in economic development to neighboring states. Legalized gambling proponents also cite numerous polls indicating widespread support among voters.
But challenges remain, including two-thirds majorities in both chambers required to pass a constitutional amendment. In addition, faith-based groups have a lot of influence opposing gambling.
State Rep. Billy Mitchell, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said the same arguments were used in the 1990s before Georgia created a state lottery and directed a portion of the proceeds to HOPE scholarship program. “I don’t think today anyone can say the Georgia Lottery has been bad for the state,” he said.
Stephens said legalizing gambling today offers the same opportunity to increase education funding as supporting the lottery did nearly 30 years ago. “Some of the folks who vote ‘no’ on this are going to be voting against $100 million a year for HOPE and pre-Kindergarten. I don’t think they want to do that.”
