Sports betting remains illegal in Georgia after multiple failed attempts in 2025, as lawmakers continue to disagree on regulatory structure, tax rates, and legal authority.
Questions over whether legalization requires a constitutional amendment, along with how revenue would be distributed, have stalled progress despite consistent public support.
Now, lawmakers are taking a different approach. A newly introduced bill for the 2026 session would legalize Georgia mobile sports betting under the Georgia Lottery’s oversight, bypassing the need for a voter referendum. If approved, the proposal would allow up to 18 licensed sportsbooks statewide.
Committee Recommends Legalizing Sports Betting
The push is fueled by a Senate study committee report focused on tourism. The Senate Study Committee on Making Georgia the No. 1 State for Tourism filed a report in December that included the recommendation of sports betting legislation.
The committee recommended legalizing sports betting after pointing to Georgia’s 174 million visitors in 2024 and $45.2 billion in statewide spending, with testimony suggesting regulated betting could further boost tourism-related economic activity. While the panel’s mission extended beyond gambling, sports betting became a recurring topic throughout its review.
Sports betting remains a live issue in a state where polling has consistently shown broad voter support. Whether lawmakers can move past partisan divides and legal uncertainty will determine if Georgia voters finally have the opportunity to decide the issue at the ballot box next November.
