Pro Teams In Georgia Want Sports Betting Legalized

• The state of Georgia has plenty of professional sports franchises for residents of the state.
• Presidents of four of these teams have come together to talk about sports betting policy.
• These organizations are in favor of legalized wagering on sports and want lawmakers to know it.

ATLANTA – Professional teams in Georgia are in agreeance when it comes to one policy: legalizing sports betting. The state’s next General Assembly will begin on January 13, 2020, to discuss a number of topics. Making the wagering of sporting events legal will be discussed with bill GA HR 380 during this time.

Four separate professional franchise presidents have come together to form the Georgia Professional Sports Integrity Alliance. The heads of Atlanta United, the Atlanta Falcons, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Atlanta Braves created this group to show politicians they are in favor of legalizing sports betting. Together, they have written a letter telling those in charge of making the laws the reasons behind their want for legalization.

Throughout the United States, Georgia is number twelve for the highest number of illegal wagers placed on sports. Professional teams want lawmakers aware that because it is something that is going on anyway, it might as well be legal and regulated.

“We felt it was important that we formed this alliance so that we could advise the Legislature if they’re going to consider drafting legislation,” said Derek Schiller, president for the Atlanta Braves. Schiller and the rest of the Alliance want to ensure that regulatory standards are upheld and the integrity of each respective sport is maintained.

The teams themselves would not profit in any way when it came to actual betting revenue. However, the overall interests in their games and athletes could go up due to the legalization of sports wagers. That would equal profits for them from different areas that stem from a bettor’s general interest now that they would legally be able to bet. The coalition believes that the sports betting market could bring in upwards of $50 million in revenue for the state.

“They do it in Vegas all the time. There’s other people that do things and they get the benefit from it. Why not let Georgia broaden its horizons and bring a lot of money here? It can’t hurt,” said sports fan, Stephen Hogg. “There’s a lot of things that people do illegally as it is and they make the benefit from it and if we legalized it, a lot more people would benefit from it.”

The Georgia Professional Sports Integrity Alliance is pushing for lawmakers to legalize both land-based and mobile sports betting. This alliance was formed to show those in charge of the laws that people in the professional sports business are in favor of this legalization. Come January, efforts to make sports betting legal in the state could become a reality if these teams have any real impact on the issue.

News tags: Atlanta Braves | Atlanta Falcons | Atlanta Hawks | Atlanta United | Derek Schiller | GA HR 380 | Georgia Professional Sports Integrity Alliance