Sports activities betting in Georgia stays unlawful, however that would quickly change now {that a} state Senate committee has permitted a measure that might create the regulatory framework to permit such playing.
Georgia Sen. Billy Hickman speaks in help of his sports activities betting measure in Atlanta on Feb. 14, 2023. Hickman’s sports activities betting invoice is prone to obtain a full vote on the Senate flooring within the coming weeks. (Picture: AP)
Senate Invoice 57 was launched final month by state Sen. Billy Hickman (R-Statesboro).
The laws seeks to legalize on-line sports activities betting and in-person wagering at self-service kiosks. A wide range of companies, resembling eating places and bars, would qualify for kiosks, as would sure sports activities venues. Hickman was joined by eight different state lawmakers who cosponsored SB 57.
After the Senate Financial Improvement Committee permitted the invoice by an 8-1 vote late Monday evening, the measure has been directed to the Guidelines Committee the place it is going to be scheduled for full Senate consideration on the chamber flooring. No date has but been scheduled for the dialogue and potential vote.
Hickman’s SB 57 isn’t the one sports activities betting measure circulating across the Atlanta capital.
One other Senate invoice, this one authored by Sen. Invoice Cowsert (R-Athens), would ask Georgians in the event that they want to enable on-line sports activities betting by way of a poll referendum. And within the state Home of Representatives, Rep. Marcus Wiedower (R-Watkinsville) has authored an analogous sports activities betting statute that might require voter help by means of a constitutional modification.
Sports activities Betting Quick Lane
A minimum of two public polls have discovered sufficient help among the many normal public to convey authorized sports activities betting to Georgia. There’s additionally bipartisan help for increasing playing within the State Capitol.
However how the state ought to go about bringing in sportsbooks, producing tax income from authorized betting, and offering shopper safeguards isn’t so united. Lawmakers have various opinions as as to whether a constitutional poll referendum to permit sports activities betting is required. Hickman says a referendum isn’t required.
Hickman believes sports activities betting can fall underneath the scope of the Georgia Lottery. That place was backed final month by former Georgia Supreme Courtroom Chief Justice Harold Melton.
Petitioned to evaluation the sports activities betting dilemma by the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Melton concluded that sports activities playing may be legalized as a state-run lottery product for instructional functions “solely by way of legislative motion.”
Hickman’s sports activities betting invoice would tax sports activities betting revenue at 20%, with these new tax streams allotted for the Georgia Lottery Corp. to profit schooling. State fiscal estimates undertaking that authorized on-line and retail sports activities betting may generate as much as $400 million yearly for the state.
Legislative Motion Opposition
Cowsert and Wiedower additionally wish to regulate sports activities betting for the advantage of schooling, however they suppose voters ought to first weigh in by way of a referendum.
For a legislative-initiated referendum, a invoice should obtain two-thirds majority help in each the Home and Senate. A easy majority of the general public vote passes the measure into regulation.
Cowsert mentioned throughout a current Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee assembly that it’s his “strongly held opinion” that sports activities betting is extra intently aligned with on line casino playing than lottery playing.
When the individuals of Georgia handed the lottery invoice, no one may have thought sports activities betting was a lottery recreation as a result of sports activities betting was unlawful. Our voters thought that different kinds — horse racing, which is finished by parimutuel betting and all of the types of on line casino gaming — weren’t going to be permitted in our state,” Cowsert mentioned.
Georgians handed the lottery referendum in 1992.
