Thursday, April 16, 2026

Georgia Strikes Down Legal Sports Betting Again

  • Sports betting legalization in Georgia likely won’t be discussed again until 2024.
  • The state had sports betting bills on the docket in 2021 or 2022, neither of which passed.
A view of the University of Georgia Bulldogs as they enter the field.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Once again, the state of Georgia has nixed sports betting legislation.

Monday was Crossover Day at the Georgia state capitol — the deadline for bills to be included in the current legislative session — and Senate Resolution 140, Senate Bill 172, and House Bill 380 did not advance to a vote.

This comes just days after the Georgia State Senate rejected Senate Bill 57, which would have permitted the state lottery to oversee legal sports and horse betting. The bill had advanced out of committee in February.

General view of the Georgia state capitol building in Atlanta.

Georgia Eyes $400M Annual Boost As Sports Betting Bill Gains Steam

The state’s Senate Economic Development Committee approved Senate Bill 57.
February 21, 2023

Sports betting legalization is now very unlikely to happen for Georgia in 2023 — and likely won’t be discussed again until 2024.

Since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) was overturned in 2018, Georgia had sports betting bills on the docket in 2021 or 2022, neither of which passed.

SB57’s chief sponsor, Sen. Billy Hickman, claims sports betting could generate $300 million to $400 million annually for the state, as well as create $1 billion in state economic impact and more than 8,500 jobs.

Gov. Brian Kemp would likely be game to sign a potential bill after changing his stance on sports betting in the runup to the 2022 gubernatorial election — he had previously opposed it.

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