Georgia voters might need the ultimate say in terms of figuring out whether or not the Peach State joins practically 40 different states which have legalized sports activities betting.
The Georgia Bulldogs faculty soccer staff runs onto the sector throughout the Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship on Jan. 9, 2023. Georgia sports activities followers stay barred from betting legally on faculty {and professional} sports activities. (Picture: USA TODAY Sports activities)
Final week within the State Capitol in Atlanta, the Georgia Senate Regulated Industries Committee unanimously accredited Senate Decision 579. The statute seeks to provoke a statewide poll referendum asking voters in the event that they want to authorize playing on skilled and faculty sports activities.
After passing the committee, the decision was learn aloud on the Senate flooring on Friday, however no motion was taken. If the Senate indicators off on the measure, SR 579 would transfer to the Georgia Home of Representatives.
A legislative-initiated effort to amend the state structure requires two-thirds help in every chamber. For the referendum, solely a easy majority is required for the modification to go.
Hand It to Voters
Georgia lawmakers are deliberating a number of sports activities betting measures. Whereas some lawmakers imagine a constitutional modification isn’t wanted on claims that sports activities wagering might fall below the scope of the state-run lottery, others like these sponsoring SR 579 imagine voter enter is required.
You’ll be able to by no means go incorrect letting the voters have a vote,” state Sen. Brandon Seaside (R-Alpharetta) advised the Ledger-Enquirer.
Seaside is one in every of 4 Republicans sponsoring the bipartisan effort, together with two Democrats. If the decision features the required two-thirds backing within the Senate and Home and the measure will not be amended, the next query would go earlier than voters throughout the November 2024 election:
“Shall the Structure of Georgia be amended in order to authorize the Common Meeting to supply by legislation for sports activities betting on this state and to supply for such proceeds for use for academic funding for pre-kindergarten and HOPE scholarships, providers for playing dependancy, and the development and promotion of sports activities on this state?”
The total textual content of the decision seeks to allocate the majority of the to-be-determined tax charge on sportsbook earnings for the state’s larger training program. HOPE — Serving to Excellent Pupils Educationally — supplies college students who common a “B” or larger in highschool with faculty monetary help by way of grants and scholarships.
SR 579 proposes directing 80% of the sports activities betting tax cash to HOPE and pre-kindergarten initiatives. The remaining 15% can be deposited into the state’s Accountable Gaming Fund and 5% to a newly established Sports activities Promotion Fund. The latter account can be used to market Georgia for main sporting occasions, one thing the state’s skilled sports activities franchises campaigned for inclusion.
Sports activities betting would predominantly stay on-line, as Georgia isn’t house to any casinos. Nevertheless, there might be a legislative push to permit the Georgia Lottery to function retail sports activities betting by means of kiosks.
Playing Antagonists
There’s a motive why Georgia hasn’t expanded gaming since 1992, when the lottery was established. Georgia is within the Bible Belt, and is likely one of the most non secular states. Pew Analysis says virtually three-quarters of Georgians imagine in a God and 64% say faith is “essential.”
Together with the non secular group, which generally opposes playing, psychological well being and dependancy specialists have issues about permitting individuals to guess on their telephones and computer systems.
That is like legalizing heroin or cocaine,” declared Frontline Coverage Motion Director of Advocacy Taylor Hawkins. The nonprofit lobbies state lawmakers to champion public insurance policies that forge “conservative household values.”
