Georgia Sports Betting Hopes Officially Dead For 2024

• Georgia’s sports betting efforts for 2024 are officially dead after stalling out in the House on Thursday.
• The Senate-approved sports betting package never advanced out of committee on the final legislative day.
• Georgia lawmakers will give it another shot in 2025, but revenue distribution remains the key obstacle.

ATLANTA – Despite the Georgia Senate approving a sports betting package back in February, efforts stalled out in the House. This marks the third consecutive year with Georgia sports betting discussion went to the final day of the legislative session and failed.

This year looked different for Georgia as Senator Clint Dixon’s sports betting bill, GA SB 386, was approved quickly in the Senate. Senator Bill Cowsert introduced an amendment that required a constitutional amendment, but momentum was still high for legal sports betting to finally come to the Peach State.

Georgia Sports Betting Efforts Stalled In House

Once the sports betting package hit House committees, it became a heavily-amended bill with changes in tax rate, revenue distribution, and more. After limited action for weeks, the bill needed an expedited approval process through two committees, the House floor, and Senate concurrence to get passed.

Of course, that didn’t happen across the three separate Rules committee meetings on Thursday. Discussion of the state budget and other bills lasted until roughly midnight, and Senate Bill 386 had no chance.

Georgia Sports Betting Legislation Outlook For 2025

There’s too much money on the table and too much in-state support for legal sports betting in Georgia for this to be the last push. Although legislators didn’t have time to pass any sports betting bills this year, progress was made towards a potential 2025 sports betting launch.

Georgia still needs to work out their indecision with revenue distribution, as many Senators and House members were concerned over funding. It’s possible that Georgia is just one full legislative session away from passing a sports betting bill, but time will tell.

News tags: Bill Cowsert | Clint Dixon | GA SB 386 | Georgia