Despite strong public support and potential for significant tax revenue, a proposal to legalize sports betting in Georgia met its demise in the Senate’s Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee. This decision has left advocates questioning the future of gambling legislation in the state.

Last Thursday marked a setback for sports betting proponents as Senate Resolution 131, aimed at amending the state constitution to permit sports betting and casino gambling, was decisively voted down. This resolution proposed a 20% tax on gambling revenues, which would be distributed evenly across Georgia‘s 159 counties, according to Senator Carden Summers, the resolution’s sponsor.

The vote occurred amid expert analyses suggesting Georgia is foregoing hundreds of millions in potential revenue from legalized gambling. Notwithstanding, the committee chose overwhelmingly against the measure, halting its progression and keeping the legalization question off the ballot.

Opposition Cites Social Concerns

The bill faced strong opposition, notably from Mike Griffin, a representative from the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, who argued that the social costs of legalized gambling, such as increased addiction rates and associated mental health issues, outweigh potential economic benefits. “You think about the mental health issues that are related to it. You think about the increase in addiction. You think about how up to a third of addicted gamblers are going to consider committing suicide,” Griffin expressed during the committee meeting, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. These sentiments reflect data from Gambleaware, which indicates that compulsive gamblers are six times more likely to harbor suicidal thoughts.

On the other side of the debate, John Pappas, a senior advisor at Geocomply, presented data showing significant interest in sports betting within the state. During the Super Bowl weekend alone, there were nearly 14,500 active attempts to place bets from Georgia, signaling a robust market if legalized. Pappas estimates that regulating sports betting could generate $110-115 million annually in tax revenue, funds that Senator Summers argued could significantly benefit rural areas of the state.

What’s Next for Georgia’s Gambling Legislation?

Although Senate Resolution 131 has stalled, there is still movement within the House, where Representative Marcus Weidower plans to introduce legislation specifically targeting sports betting. This move is significant as some senators opposed the Senate resolution not on its merits but due to doubts about receiving the necessary support in the House.

The House’s forthcoming resolution might have a better chance of advancing, given the shifting dynamics and the public’s growing support for sports betting. A recent poll by the University of Georgia found that 63% of voters favor legal sportsbooks, echoing a Republican primary question indicating that 80% of respondents support amending the constitution to allow gambling.

The fate of sports betting in Georgia remains uncertain. Senate Bill 208, which could set the regulatory framework if an amendment passes, still has life and could shape the state’s gambling future. This bill, proposed by Senator Billy Hickman, would place sports betting under the Georgia Lottery’s purview without needing a constitutional amendment, a point of contention among lawmakers.