• 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

Sports Betting On The Move Again In Georgia

Senate committee amends, advances traffic-ticket bill with sports betting

Jill R. Dorson by Jill R. Dorson
June 19, 2020
in Regulation
(Shutterstock)

(Shutterstock)

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A Georgia senator on Friday amended a bill that deals with traffic tickets to add legal sports wagering and the Senate Special Judiciary Committee approved the amended bill, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The bill would legalize sports betting with the Georgia Lottery as the regulator and apply a 20% tax rate on gross revenues. State proceeds from sports betting would be funneled almost exclusively to the state’s HOPE Scholarship and pre-kindergarten programs.

The bill now goes directly to the full Senate for a vote.

The bill was originally filed as SB 403, which did not get out of the Senate and over to the House by “crossover day,” the 28th day of the legislative session. Bills that don’t cross over are generally considered dead until a new session starts. But Senator Burt Jones tacked it on to the traffic-ticket bill, HB 903, because like states across the country, Georgia is suffering from an unexpectedly big budget deficit due to shutdowns surrounding the COVID-19 crisis.

Projected tax income: $60 million

According to the Marietta Daily Journal, the projected tax revenue to the state will be $60 million once sports betting is fully operational. Georgia is currently facing $2.6 billion in budget cuts for the upcoming fiscal year.

“The only way to keep that program viable for years to come is to do one of two things — cut cost or find ways to generate more revenue dollars,” Jones told the AJC. “There are statistics that show it is a $1.5 billion industry right here in Georgia, but it’s not regulated. It’s practicing in the shadows.”

Atlanta sports teams to Georgia: Legalize sports betting https://t.co/orKn01sri9

— 11Alive News (@11AliveNews) February 13, 2020

The original bill had the backing of Georgia’s four professional sports franchises, which created the Georgia Professional Sports Integrity Alliance. The owners of the NFL Falcons, NBA Hawks, MLB Braves, and MLS United in November wrote a letter to lawmakers expressing support and saying, in part, that legal mobile sports betting will “enhance our engagement with fans.”

Georgia would be first mover in region

Sports betting has moved through the Georgia legislature in fits and starts. HB 403 was first introduced in February, and lawmakers held hearings and meetings with stakeholders in January. In addition, an AJC survey showed that 57% of voters would support legal sports betting.

Georgia is in a unique situation in that its only border state with statewide legal sports betting is Tennessee — and that’s on the western border, far from Atlanta. Tennessee legalized statewide mobile only, and the current plan is for operators to launch ahead of the NFL season.

Florida does not have legal sports betting. Should Georgia legalize, it would get a jump on neighboring Alabama, Florida and North Carolina, all of which have rabid college football fans and many of whom call Atlanta’s pro teams their own. In North Carolina, the state legislature in 2019 approved limited on-site sports betting at two tribal casinos.

ShareTweetShare
Jill R. Dorson

Jill R. Dorson

Jill has covered everything from steeplechase to the NFL and then some during a more than 30-year career in sports journalism. The highlight of her career was covering Oakland Raiders during the Charles Woodson/Jon Gruden era, including the infamous “Snow Bowl” and the Raiders’ 2003 trip to Super Bowl XXXVII. Her specialty these days is covering sports betting legislation across the country. You can reach Jill at jill@bettercollective.com

Related Posts

texas-rangers-leaving-dugout
Legislation

Latest Texas Bills Call For Digital Wagering Only Via Pro Sports Franchises

February 7, 2023
Shutterstock
Legislation

Card Room-Backed Sports Wagering Bill Filed In Washington State

January 27, 2023
Load More

Top Stories

fanduel-retail-sportsbook-front

Requiem For The So-Called ‘Risk-Free Bet’

February 2, 2023
garnett mgm springfield

Sports Betting Launches In Massachusetts, Giving Three Retail Books A Head Start

January 31, 2023
springfield thunderbirds betmgm opening

What’s Next For BetMGM As Entain Nears End Of Commitment To U.S. Joint Venture?

February 3, 2023
anthony-grant-coaching

Regulators, Colleges Grapple With Impact Of Angry Online Gamblers

February 6, 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 – Where To Play, Bonus Offers And Promo Codes

by Brian Pempus
February 2, 2023

Downtown Detroit at twilight (Shutterstock)

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

by Brett Smiley
February 7, 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
October 20, 2022

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

gambling therapy
ncpg
igaming ontario
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (MI/NJ/OH/PA/WV), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-888-532-3500 (VA) or call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN).
19+. Please play responsibly. Terms and conditions apply. 
Individuals must be 19 years of age or older to participate in igaming in Ontario. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. If you, or someone you know, has a gambling problem in Ontario and wants help, please visit ConnexOntario or call their helpline at 1-866-531-2600. Operators on this website operate pursuant to an Operating Agreement with iGaming Ontario.

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

loading

Please wait while you are redirected to the right page...

Please share your location to continue.

Check our help guide for more info.

share your location