Georgia’s Sports Betting Push Stalls as Lawmakers Miss Deadline

Georgia’s push to legalize sports betting has hit another roadblock as lawmakers failed to pass legislation before the deadline.

Despite support from major sports teams and business groups, political divisions once again prevented a constitutional amendment from moving forward.

With this latest failure, Georgia remains one of the few US states without legal sports betting, losing potential tax revenue.

While the bill could be revisited in 2026, the delay means Georgia will miss out on another year of regulated wagering.

Georgia’s Sports Betting Efforts Stall as Lawmakers Miss Key Deadline

Key Points:

• Georgia lawmakers failed to pass a constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting before the legislative deadline.
• Democratic opposition and internal Republican divisions prevented the bill from securing the necessary votes.
• Georgia remains one of the few US states without legal sports betting, despite growing national adoption.

Political Divisions Block Georgia’s Betting Legislation

Georgia’s latest attempt to legalize sports betting has once again stalled as lawmakers failed to bring a constitutional amendment or supporting bill to a vote before the legislative deadline.

The proposal, introduced last week, lacked the necessary support in the House, making it unlikely to advance in the final month of the session.

Rep. Chuck Martin, chairman of the House Higher Education Committee, admitted that the bill’s late introduction played a role in its failure.

Georgia’s legislative process operates on a two-year cycle, meaning lawmakers could revisit sports betting in 2026. However, this delay keeps Georgia behind other states that have already embraced regulated sports wagering.

Why Did the Bill Fail?

The main roadblock was Democratic opposition, as a constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate. Without bipartisan support, the bill could not move forward.

Democrats want tax revenue from sports betting directed to pre-kindergarten funding, a demand included in Martin’s proposal.

Republicans remain divided, with some conservative lawmakers opposing sports betting entirely due to concerns over gambling addiction.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, professional sports teams, and business organizations backed the bill, arguing that Georgia is losing out on millions in tax revenue. However, these arguments failed to sway enough legislators.

Georgia Falls Behind as Other States Move Forward

While Georgia struggles with sports betting legalization, other states are making progress:

• Missouri has entered the regulatory phase after voters approved sports betting in 2024. Licenses are being reviewed, with a launch expected by late summer.
• Hawaii’s House passed a bill this week to legalize online sports betting, moving the discussion forward in a historically strict gambling market.
• Minnesota saw its sports betting bill stall in February due to legislative deadlock, despite backing from Native American tribes and professional sports teams.
• California voters rejected sports betting in 2022, and a follow-up attempt in 2023 also failed.

Despite setbacks, the overall trend in the US favors legalization, with more states recognizing the economic benefits of regulated sports wagering.

What’s Next for Georgia?

Georgia’s next opportunity to revisit sports betting legislation will be in 2026.

Supporters argue that legalization would provide a safer alternative to unregulated offshore betting sites while boosting state revenue.

If political differences can be resolved, Georgia could still join the growing list of states offering legal sports betting—but for now, the wait continues.

Until then, sports betting remains illegal in Georgia, leaving bettors with few legal options.