The landscape of sports betting in Georgia is on the brink of change as Senate Resolution 579, aimed at legalizing this form of gambling, has achieved a resounding victory in the state senate. Advocates for sports betting are now one step closer to seeing their efforts materialize into law following the bill’s passage by a commanding vote of 41 to 12—a margin that comfortably surpasses the two-thirds majority requisite for amending the state constitution via a referendum vote.
This legislative success can largely be attributed to senator Bill Cowsert, who, despite the failure of his Senate Bill 172 in early 2023, persevered to introduce SR579, which is essentially a revival of his earlier initiatives. The new resolution has not undergone substantial modifications, and the growing support suggests it is primed for eventual ratification.
February bore witness to another significant development when senator Clint Dixon’s Senate Bill 386 received legislative endorsement with a vote tally of 35-15. This enabling legislation, SB386, lays out a proposed framework for regulating sports betting within the state. However, the stipulation was amended, raising the bar for its approval to require the backing of at least 38 senators.
Cowsert’s audacious proposal sets forth an allocation of sports betting tax revenue, where a sweeping 80% is designated for the lottery’s education fund. This aligns with Georgia’s consistent prioritization of educational funding through lottery proceeds. An additional 15% of the revenue is earmarked for public education centered on problem gambling—a gesture to address potential social concerns—and the remainder, a meager 5%, is allocated to the Sports Promotion Fund, poised to bolster the ‘advancement’ of sports throughout Georgia.
The next hurdle for SR579 is the state house, where it faces the challenging task of acquiring two-thirds approval once more. Upon clearing this obstacle, the resolution would set the stage for a referendum. The probability is that voters would cast their opinions on this transformative issue in November of this year, potentially reshaping the state’s engagement with sports betting.
Senator Cowsert has described the decision to put the matter to a public vote as “politically appropriate.” With the tax rate on sports betting income yet to be determined, Georgia finds itself at a crossroads, weighing whether to emulate New York’s substantial 51% tax rate or to follow in the footsteps of states like Iowa and Nevada, who have set a substantially more modest tax rate of 6.75%.
Nonetheless, SR579 does not enjoy universal support. Critics like Senator Marty Harbin, a vehement adversary of legalizing betting in Georgia, raise concerns over the ills of problem gambling, which he emphasizes as a “real addiction.” Harbin further argues against the necessity of sports betting tax revenue, citing Georgia’s robust financial standing as evidence that the state does not hinge on gambling for fiscal stability.
As deliberations and debates continue to unfold, the tension between potential economic benefits and societal impacts remains at the forefront of discourse surrounding SR579. The decision ultimately rests not just with the lawmakers but also with the citizens of Georgia, who may soon be tasked with deciding the fate of sports betting in their state. As the bill advances to the state house for further scrutiny, stakeholders on all sides of the issue are braced for an outcome that could lead to a dramatic shift in Georgia’s approach to sports betting and its encompassing implications.
