Georgia Tourism Committee Lobbies For Sports Betting

It was only a one-sentence line in a 28-page document, yet it is causing a major stir in Georgia. The Senate Study Committee on Making Georgia the No. 1 State for Tourism is pushing state legislators to move forward with the legalization of sports betting.

Under the heading, Fiscal and Economic Impact of Tourism, was the following sentence: “The State of Georgia should legalize mobile sports betting.”

The recommendation was a late addition to the document. There was no public discussion of the impact of sports betting on tourism during the committee’s meetings.

“It was a simple recommendation much like the rest of the list,” Committee Chairman Drew Echols (R-Gainesville) told TVG News. “The recommendations are just that. Hard to say how many, if any, of the recommendations will come to fruition.”

Committee members noted that North Carolina’s tourism industry has reaped significant benefits since the state legalized sports betting on March 11, 2024.

Nick Fernandez, who serves as government affairs coordinator for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, told the committee that North Carolina utilizes 30% of its sports betting revenues to attract major events to the state.

“We certainly see sports betting as a potential revenue source for major sporting events,” Fernandez said.

Sports betting legislation has stalled in Georgia

A separate committee of Georgia lawmakers has been conducting its own study of the benefits of legalizing sports betting in the state. That committee is expected to present its report in the near future.

To date, all attempts to legalize sports betting in Georgia have failed to gain any traction. Georgia Rep. Marcus Wiedower put forth two separate bills that were designed to move forward with the legalization of sports betting.

One measure included an outline of how tax rates and licensing limits would be set, with a recommendation that the Georgia Lottery be established as the state regulator to oversee legal and regulated sports betting.

The second bill called for a statewide referendum on the legalization of sports betting to be held as part of the November 2026 midterm elections.

Throwing a monkey wrench into these plans is the fact that Wiedower tendered his resignation from the Georgia legislature in October. Minus the driving force to move these measures forward, it will be up to the co-sponsors of Wiedower’s bills to keep the momentum going toward the legalization of sports betting.

Religious leaders and conservative groups in the state have voiced their disapproval over the legalization of sports betting in Georgia.

At present, Georgia state law requires that voters approve an amendment to the constitution before any form of gambling can be legalized.

Georgia is lagging behind when it comes to sports betting

Georgia is falling behind other southern US states when it comes to legal and regulated sports betting. North Carolina is among the three neighboring states that have legalized online sports betting. Tennessee and Florida also provide access to legalized sports betting.

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