A state Senate committee overwhelmingly authorized laws to legalize sports activities betting in Georgia. Senate Bill 386 handed the Senate Financial Growth and Tourism Committee with an 8–2 vote on Tuesday.
Georgia State Senator Clint Dixon (R) has launched laws to legalize on-line sports activities betting within the Peach State. (Picture: Chattanooga Instances Free Press)
It’s the second sports activities playing invoice filed within the chamber this month. The primary measure, SB 172, superior earlier this month. The distinction is that SB 386, sponsored by Sen. Clint Dixon (R-Buford), wouldn’t require a voter referendum to cross a constitutional modification to permit sports activities betting.
Voters amended the structure to permit a lottery in 1992.
“There isn’t a constitutional modification required as a result of all of the funds are going to the lottery to fund pre-Ok and HOPE,” stated Dixon.
HOPE Scholarships are for college students who obtain a minimum of a “B” common in highschool.
We imagine this invoice has introduced a win for Georgia.” Stated Nick Fernandez of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. The Chamber helps the plan together with Atlanta’s professional sports activities groups.
Whereas the invoice does have some bipartisan help, lawmakers stalled gaming enlargement over constitutional modification questions in 2023.
The Senate Guidelines Committee should now resolve whether or not to place the laws earlier than the complete Senate.
Structure Requirement Debate Heats
Opponents warn SB 386 might be declared unconstitutional, saying voters in 1992 possible by no means believed they have been authorizing sports activities betting after they authorized the lottery.
“I don’t imagine this end-around goes to work,” stated Mike Griffin, a lobbyist for Georgia’s Southern Baptist church buildings.
Supporters imagine sports activities betting would carry financial advantages, whereas opponents dismiss these claims with habit issues and outsized losses of private cash.
“The disastrous results of downside playing are well-known and well-documented,” stated Mack Parnell, govt director of the Georgia Religion and Freedom Coalition.
Louisiana, Tennessee, and Kentucky have been the primary three states within the Southeastern Convention (SEC) to legalize sports activities playing.
What’s within the Invoice
The invoice, known as the “Georgia Lottery Sport of Sports activities Betting Act,” is restricted to on-line wagering solely. The invoice would tax gamblers’ winnings at 20%.
As many as 16 licenses can be made accessible, and Georgia’s skilled sports activities groups, together with the Atlanta Braves, Falcons, Hawks, Dream, and Atlanta FC, would all maintain rights to accomplice with operators. The PGA Tour, Augusta Nationwide Golf Course, and Atlanta Motor Speedway would even be eligible.
The state lottery can be allowed to carry a license and can be allowed to award seven sports activities betting licenses to operators by way of a public procurement course of.
Georgia sports activities betting can be open to adults 21 and older.
The invoice requires wagering to start within the state no later than Jan. 31, 2025.
