Rep. Hatchett Files Last-Minute Georgia Sports Betting Bill

• Rep. Matt Hatchett filed House Bill 910 just days before the 2025 Georgia legislative session ends, aiming to legalize online sports betting.
• The bill proposes up to 18 sportsbook licenses regulated by the Georgia Lottery Corporation, with a 25% tax funding education.
• HB 910 won’t advance in 2025 but carries over to 2026, keeping the door open for sports betting debate next session.
• Supporters like Georgia’s pro sports teams may rally behind the bill, while opposition from conservative and religious groups remains strong.
• By framing sports betting as a lottery game, the bill may bypass the need for a constitutional amendment – though legal challenges could follow.

ATLANTA – With the clock ticking down on the 2025 Georgia General Assembly session, Representative Matt Hatchett (R-155th District) dropped a surprise proposal into the House Hopper on Wednesday, aiming to legalize online sports betting in Georgia.

House Bill 910, titled the “Georgia Lottery Game of Sports Betting Act,” seeks to bring legal sports betting forward under the oversight of the Georgia Lottery Corporation (GLC).

A Late Filing Amid a Closing Session

The bill’s introduction came just two days before the scheduled “Sine Die” adjournment on Friday, the final day of the 40-day legislative session that began January 13.

However, the timing is strategic. In Georgia’s two-year biennium, bills introduced in the first year (2025) carry over to the second (2026) if not passed. By placing HB 910 in the Hopper now, Hatchett ensures Georgia sports betting discussions for this concept are on the table for next year’s session, starting January 2026.

This may give supporters time to rally support and refine the proposal over the interim.

What HB 910 Proposes

• Regulation: The GLC would oversee up to 18 licenses for entities like professional sports teams (e.g., the Atlanta Braves, Falcons) and other designated operators, with betting limited to legal online sportsbooks – no in-person sportsbooks.
• Revenue: A 25% tax on adjusted gross income from betting would fund education programs, mirroring the lottery’s mission to support HOPE Scholarships and pre-K.
• Safeguards: Bettors must be 21 and in Georgia, with bans on betting by athletes, coaches, and others with insider influence. The bill also mandates responsible gambling measures.

The bill frames sports betting as an extension of the lottery, potentially sidestepping the need for a constitutional amendment – a hurdle that has doomed prior efforts.

Timeline For Georgia Sports Betting

For the remainder of 2025, the impact of HB 910 is minimal. With the session ending Friday, it won’t advance beyond the Hopper this year. Unless an extraordinary special session is called by Governor Kemp – a long shot given the issue’s divisiveness – sports betting will remain unregulated in Georgia through 2025.

The bill’s filing, however, keeps the conversation alive, signaling intent to prioritize it next year, where the real battle begins.

HB 910’s carryover status gives it a head start, potentially positioning it for committee action early in the session. Supporters will likely lobby hard, which may include the Atlanta Braves and Falcons, who are eligible for licenses.

Opposition, however, looms large. Conservative lawmakers, religious groups, and anti-gambling advocates have historically blocked expansion, arguing it fuels addiction and social harm.

SERIOUSLY? #NoGamblinginGA pic.twitter.com/i0eX0syVbT

— Moms Against Gambling (@NOGamblinginGA) April 4, 2025

Also, critics may challenge whether sports betting qualifies as a “lottery,” possibly sparking a legal fight.

Either way, as the 2025 Georgia legislative session closes, all eyes turn to next year.

News tags: Atlanta Braves | Atlanta Falcons | Brian Kemp | GA HB 910 | Georgia | Georgia Lottery Corporation | Georgia Lottery Game of Sports Betting Act | Matt Hatchett