The discussion on the legalization of sports betting in Georgia has heated up again. At a recent hearing of the House Gambling Research Committee, industry representatives and experts not only emphasized the substantial revenue from sports betting but also pointed out that the development of casino resorts could bring billions of dollars in investment and thousands of new jobs to the state.
Sports Betting Bill and Constitutional Threshold
Several witnesses stated that if Georgia could replicate the experience of North Carolina, by passing a referendum to expand the gambling industry in 2026, the state government could gain over $100 million in taxes annually. However, the Georgia Constitution currently prohibits gambling, and any expansion would require the consent of a two-thirds majority in both houses and voter approval.
In fact, over the past five legislative sessions, attempts to legalize sports betting have repeatedly stalled, partly because constitutional amendments have become a focal point of partisan games. In 2021, the Democrats withdrew their support due to dissatisfaction with the Republican voting bill; in 2023, supporters even tried to "tie" it to unrelated bills when it failed to get approved before the deadline.
Currently, the chairman of the research committee, Marcus Wiedower, has proposed the HB 686 bill, which envisions issuing 16 online sports betting licenses with a tax rate set at 24%.
North Carolina's "Successful Example"
At the start of the hearing, former North Carolina legislator Jason Saine pointed out that Georgia could completely replicate North Carolina's achievements. The state achieved $116 million in revenue in the first year of opening sports betting, almost double the expected amount. Saine emphasized that an 18% tax rate was key to North Carolina's success.
Jeremy Kudon, chairman of the Sports Betting Alliance, further predicted that if Georgia imposed a 17% tax rate, the first year's revenue could reach $154 million, and by the fifth year, it could grow to $222 million.
Saine also explained the uses of North Carolina's tax revenue, including gambling addiction prevention, education, sports, and major event funds. He stated bluntly, "Many people worry about the negative impacts of gambling, but the facts have proven that problem gambling has not increased, and the illegal market has been significantly weakened."
Public Support and Market Signals
A poll at the end of 2024 showed that 63% of Georgia residents support the legalization of sports betting. Data from GeoComply also corroborated the demand: during the 2024 to 2025 NFL season, 366,000 accounts in Georgia made 4.4 million geolocation attempts, a 66% increase from the previous year. Among them, just one exit in Chattanooga, Tennessee, saw 13,000 accounts complete over 830,000 geolocation attempts.
Sports leagues and professional events are also endorsing it. Atlanta's professional teams have long expressed support, and the vice president of the PGA Tour emphasized that legalization could not only increase revenue and spectator participation but also make regulation more transparent and reduce illegal risks.
Interest from Casino Giants
In addition to sports betting, casino development is also attracting attention. Representatives from companies like Bally’s, Boyd Gaming, and Wynn Resorts stated at the meeting that Georgia has the potential to become a destination resort. The president of Wynn Resorts Development Company, Gordon, noted their interest in strict regulation, limited licenses, reasonable tax rates, and stable market demand. He cited the example of Wynn's Encore Boston project in Massachusetts, which involved a total investment of $2.6 billion and successfully transformed an abandoned industrial area into a landmark creating thousands of jobs.
Real estate developers added that Georgia has at least 25 prime plots suitable for casino construction, with potential investments up to $3 billion, and each resort could bring about 4,000 job opportunities.
