• About Us / Contact
  • Responsible Gambling
This site contains commercial content
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
No Result
View All Result

Legal Sports Betting Efforts In Georgia Fall Short In 2023

A bill in the Senate was voted down, while a House bill wasn't even discussed Monday

Bennett Conlin by Bennett Conlin
March 7, 2023
in Legislation
atlanta-braves-world-series-logo

David J. Griffin/Getty Images

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Sports betting legalization efforts in Georgia’s legislature failed Monday, marking yet another setback for sports wagering proponents in the state. 

There was some hope entering Monday, which was Georgia’s legislative crossover deadline day, that House efforts would pass through to the Senate and Senate efforts would pass through to the House. Instead, all bills to legalize sports betting in Georgia died Monday. Hence, legal sports betting won’t come to Georgia in 2023, despite an appetite from some Georgians to use legal mobile sportsbooks. 

Based on GeoComply information, many Georgians tried to access legal mobile sportsbooks in other states during the 2022 NFL season.

(via @BennettConlin)https://t.co/nsNexbiRDo

— Sports Handle (@sports_handle) March 3, 2023

Failed bills

SR 140 and its enabling legislation, SB 172, aimed to legalize sports betting in Georgia through a constitutional amendment, but the resolution was shot down in the Senate early Monday afternoon. The legislative effort received 30 “yes” votes and 26 “no” votes, but it needed a two-thirds majority to move forward, since it was a constitutional amendment.  

Sen. Bill Cowsert, who proposed SR 140, was adamant that legal sports betting should require a constitutional amendment — which would have sent the proposal to voters had it passed the legislature — in Georgia. Others believe that’s unnecessary, especially if sports betting becomes a lottery game. That topic has been debated throughout the legislative session. 

“I don’t get why it’s wrong to let the people of Georgia vote on this issue,” Cowsert said. “We’re not little mini-dictators up here, dictating what the policy will always be.”

SB 57 failed to make it through the Senate late last week. That legislative effort focused on legalizing sports betting in addition to fixed-odds wagering on horse racing. The inclusion of horse-racing language likely cooled some legislators on the effort, which would not have needed a constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting. 

HB 380, a mobile-only sports betting bill that did not require a constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting, was never discussed on the House floor Monday. That bill failed despite the support of the Sports Betting Alliance, which is composed of major sports betting operators, including BetMGM and FanDuel.

Try again in 2024?

Sports betting supporters will now have to wait until the 2024 legislative session to attempt to bring legal sports wagering to Georgia, and there will be several hurdles to clear. 

In addition to intense debates about the need for a constitutional amendment, some legislators feel gambling poses moral issues. And there is concern that an increase in betting options could lead to increases in gambling addiction across the state.  

“As much as it brings good, I think it brings bad,” Sen. Marty Harbin said Monday. “I think we need to be aware of that.”

Cowsert was conscious of potential problem gambling issues, as he emphasized the need for responsible gambling measures throughout the legislative process. He even received praise at a recent committee hearing from a national responsible gambling consultant. 

Still, his measure (and others) fell short Monday. Expect those same responsible gambling concerns to pop up again in 2024.

ShareTweetShare
Bennett Conlin

Bennett Conlin

Bennett Conlin is a sports betting reporter. He began his sportswriting career crafting recaps of family wiffle ball games. He’s covered more meaningful games since those early days, most recently writing about the University of Virginia’s athletic programs for The Daily Progress. Bennett can be reached at [email protected].

Related Posts

Aldara Zarraoa/Getty Images
Legislation

Georgia Sports Betting Legalization Efforts Alive Again In 2023

March 16, 2023
atlanta-falcons-helmet
Legislation

Georgia Legislator Seeks Responsible Gambling Input On Betting Bill

February 24, 2023
Load More

Top Stories

taylor mathis

Taylor Mathis Got Sacrificed At The Altar Of Responsible Gambling

March 20, 2023
fanduel baseball wall

Premade Same Game Parlays Are Sucker Bets

March 13, 2023
maginfier-over-small-print

Read The Fine Print: A Proposed Federal Rule Could Change Everything For Indian Gaming

March 6, 2023
roman reigns wwe

Colorado Denies Report Stating That It’s Considering WWE Wagering

March 8, 2023

State Sports Betting Guides

Ohio (U.S. state) flag waving against clear blue sky, close up, isolated with clipping path mask alpha channel transparency, perfect for film, news, composition

Ohio Sports Betting – All Online Sportsbooks, Bonus Offers, and News 2023

by Brian Pempus
March 31, 2023

Downtown Detroit at twilight (Shutterstock)

Michigan Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
March 27, 2023

VA captial

Virginia Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonus Offers

by Brett Smiley
January 17, 2023

nj flag

New Jersey Sports Betting — Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
March 22, 2023

pa online sportsbooks

Pennsylvania Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonuses

by Brett Smiley
October 6, 2022

Canada Sports Betting Guides

Canada Sports Betting – Best Sportsbook Apps & Bonus Offers

British Columbia Sports Betting – Legal Update, Available Sportsbooks, and FAQ

Ontario Sports Betting – Legal Status And Where To Play

SportsHandle

  • Analysis
  • Casino
  • Features
  • Horse Racing
  • Industry
  • Legal
  • Legislation
  • Opinion
  • Podcasts
  • Poker
  • Politics
  • Promotions
  • Regulation
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized

Better Collective

This website is owned and operated by Better Collective USA. Trademarks and copyrights referenced on this website are and shall remain the exclusive property of their respective owners and/or licensors. Please be sure to visit the operator’s website(s) to review their terms & conditions. We advise you to read these carefully as they contain important information. Copyright © 2023 USBets.com | Better Collective USA
21 Play Responsibly
Gamble Aware West Virginia
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
GameSense

Search Sports Handle

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us / Contact
  • Responsible Gambling

No Result
View All Result
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News