In the latest move regarding sports betting legislation, Georgia will not be joining the ranks of states with legalized sports gambling in 2025. Efforts to bring a constitutional amendment to voters reached a standstill in the Georgia legislature, as no voting took place in the House for either the proposed amendment or the accompanying bill outlining specific regulations.
Georgia differs from its neighbor, Missouri, where sports betting was narrowly legalized through a 2024 referendum, securing its place as the 39th state to embrace the practice. However, the path toward legalization remains challenging in the remaining ten states that still prohibit sports gambling.
The deadline for passing legislation from each Georgia chamber to the opposite chamber expired Thursday. Although there remains a slight possibility for revival during the session’s last month, the likelihood is considerably reduced. The proposed measures could still be on the table for discussion in the 2026 session’s latter half.
Chuck Martin, the House Higher Education Committee Chairman and a Republican from Alpharetta, expressed that the proposal was introduced too late to gain necessary traction. “We’ll keep working with people and trying to do what’s in the best interest of the state,” Martin said, mentioning the potential for a referendum in November 2026.
Efforts to legalize sports betting in Georgia have significant backing from various sectors, including Atlanta’s professional sports teams, business groups, and Republican Lt. Governor Burt Jones. Despite powerful support, achieving legislative success has been a seven-session uphill battle since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 decision overturning a federal sports betting ban in most states.
While progress seems stalled in Georgia, other states face similar issues. In Minnesota, a proposal limped to a halt following a deadlock Senate committee vote. Despite support from the state’s Native American tribes, local sports teams, and charitable organizations, the initiative could not win approval. Meanwhile, Texas’s House approved a similar measure, yet it stumbled in the state Senate.
California voters turned down a proposal in 2022, whereas Hawaii is witnessing movement with its House passing a bill to legislate online sports betting. Missouri is actively drafting regulations and processing sportsbook applications, with legal betting anticipated to commence in late summer or early autumn.
For Georgia, passing a constitutional amendment necessitates two-thirds majority approval in both the House and Senate, a hurdle that is seemingly unreachable without Democratic support. The state’s Republican lawmakers are divided, with some staunchly opposing betting due to addiction concerns, particularly among younger individuals.
House Minority Whip Sam Park, a Democrat from Lawrenceville, highlighted his party’s priority on funneling any resulting tax revenue towards early childhood education, which was a focus in Martin’s proposed amendment. Proponents of sports betting argue that Georgia residents should have the opportunity to vote, emphasizing that many already partake in illegal sports betting activities.
State Rep. Marcus Wiedower, a Republican from Watkinsville and the proposal’s sponsor, believes legalization is crucial. “I believe strongly — and Georgians by wide margins agree with me — that this change will not only bring in much needed revenue to educate our youngest learners but also provide consumer protections that don’t exist in today’s black market,” Wiedower stated.
Currently, of the 38 states permitting sports betting, most allow electronic wagers from anywhere, though some restrict bets to in-person only.
