Sports wagering in Georgia remains stagnant and unsuccessful as bills related to the topic receive no progression in 2025.
It's time to face reality, folks. Once again, Georgia's dream of broadening its gambling options has crumbled. As we've rolled into March of 2025, the wagon for legalizing sports betting has hit another dead end. Two bills – HB 686 and HR 450 – couldn't make it from one legislative chamber to another on the infamous 'Crossover Day.'
This ominous day – March 6 – marks the 28th day of the legislative session, by which every bill needs to have passed in either the state Senate or House to be up for consideration in the other. Bills that don't cross over? Dead, and R.I.P. 'til next year.
So, what happened to our beloved sports betting bills this year? Well, they took a nosedive, crashed, imploded – take your pick of metaphor. Specifically, they hit a wall of insufficient Senate support coupled with procedural delays.
You may have heard the House Committee passed these bills on March 5, but by March 7, it was all over. The bills collapsed faster than a sandcastle during a storm.
HB 686, the Georgia Sports Betting Act, would have allowed the regulation and taxation of sports betting in the state. Meanwhile, HR 450 aimed to put the decision in the hands of voters. Both bills had public support, as polls indicated nearly 60% of Georgians favor legalizing sports betting.
If HB 686 had passed, it would have issued up to 16 "Type 1" sports betting licenses to entities such as professional sports teams, golf courses, race tracks, the Georgia Lottery (who would've overseen the thing), and online operators. These operators would have had to pony up a $100,000 application fee and a $1 million annual licensing fee. They would also have had to cough up 24% of their adjusted gross income in taxes.
Money from legalized sports betting would have been funneled into the same places as state lottery funds, primarily for the HOPE Scholarship for college students and public pre-K programs.
So, why did these bills go down in flaming flames?
- Time constraints: The House got a late start on things, so there was barely time for the Senate to debate or amend the bills.
- Political opposition: Senate committees seem to have a long-standing grudge against gambling expansion, owing to ideological disagreements.
- Procedural hurdles: HR 450 required a two-thirds majority, which is quite a tall order for bipartisan agreements.
Of course, it's important to remember that Georgia still remains one of the handful of southeastern states with no legal sports betting, despite several attempts since 2021. This year's debacle only mirrors the pattern set in past attempts: initial enthusiasm, followed by procedural delays, and a lack of consensus.
While partnerships between DFS companies and teams, like PrizePicks and the Atlanta Braves, may signal industry interest, Georgia's lawmakers seem to be stuck in a vicious cycle of inaction.
- Despite the fact that HB 686 and HR 450, two bills aiming to legalize sports betting in Georgia, had public support with nearly 60% of Georgians favoring it, they failed to pass the 'Crossover Day' on March 6, 2025, and imploded due to insufficient Senate support, political opposition, and procedural hurdles.
- If HB 686 had passed, it would have generated funds for the HOPE Scholarship for college students and public pre-K programs, but the bills collapsed faster than a sandcastle during a storm due to the Senate's reluctance to support gambling expansion, making Georgia one of the southern states still without legal sports betting in 2025.
- Despite repeated attempts since 2021, Georgia's lawmakers have yet to break the cycle of inaction on sports betting, leaving the state's gambling options limited, while partnerships between DFS companies and teams indicate an industry interest that may continue to push for change in the coming years.
