Georgia lawmakers are once again pushing for legalized sports betting and casino gambling, with a newly introduced resolution that could allow voters to decide on the matter in 2026. Senate Resolution 131 (SR 131), filed by four Republican state senators, aims to amend the state constitution to permit regulated gaming while establishing a governing body to oversee the industry.
Projected revenue and legislative details:
According to 13WMAZ, the sponsors—Senators Carden Summers, Billy Hickman, Brandon Beach, and Lee Anderson—have reintroduced a measure similar to past efforts that previously failed to gain traction. If approved, the resolution would authorize at least eight casino licenses and impose a 20% tax on gaming revenue, with the proceeds allocated to a newly established Georgia Gaming Proceeds Fund.
The proposal is part of Georgia’s ongoing struggle with unregulated sports betting. Reports indicate that thousands of residents already participate in gambling through unauthorized methods or by crossing into states where betting is legal.
Experts suggest that a fully regulated sports betting market in Georgia could generate over $100 million in annual tax revenue. GeoComply, a cybersecurity firm that tracks online gambling activity, found that during the latest NFL season, more than 300,000 betting accounts were accessed within Georgia. Additionally, a significant number of residents were detected traveling to Tennessee to place legal wagers.
“Estimates look at in a mature legal market in Georgia, the annual tax revenue for the state would be somewhere around $112-115 million annually,” said John Pappas, a senior advisor at GeoComply.
Representative Marcus Wiedower, a leading advocate for legalization, is spearheading efforts to pass a constitutional amendment that would only permit online sports betting—excluding physical casinos, horse racing kiosks, or other in-person betting options. Under his proposal, a portion of gaming revenue would be directed to the Georgia Lottery, which funds education, while up to $20 million annually would be allocated toward responsible gambling initiatives.
SR 131 builds on these ideas, aiming to create a Georgia Gaming Commission to regulate operations and ensure fair oversight of betting activity. The first $2 billion in tax revenue would be divided among Georgia’s counties, with additional funds distributed once a $5 billion milestone is reached. Furthermore, 5% of all revenue exceeding that amount would be allocated to gambling addiction prevention and treatment programs.
Opposition and challenges to the bill:
Despite growing public interest in legalized betting, Georgia has historically been resistant to gambling expansion. Religious groups and anti-gambling organizations remain strong opponents of these efforts.
“We’re going to see it exponentially make things worse,” warned Mike Griffin, Public Affairs Representative for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. “It’s going to increase addiction, and we’ve already seen that addiction rates increase the potential of suicide rates.”
While opponents acknowledge that illegal gambling is widespread, they argue that this is not a reason to legitimize the practice. “The Lord only knows what all is happening in our state that’s illegal. That all doesn’t need to be made legal,” Griffin added, as reported by Fox 5 Atlanta.
Efforts to legalize sports betting in Georgia date back to 2019, yet every attempt has faced legislative roadblocks. In 2024, similar bills failed to pass in the House despite having Senate approval. SR 131 follows previous proposals, such as SR 538, which sought to legalize both casinos and sports betting but ultimately stalled before reaching a vote.
For the latest resolution to advance, it must pass the Georgia Senate by March 6, 2025, and gain full legislative approval by April 4, 2025. If successful, the measure would be placed on the November 2026 ballot for voter consideration.
Supporters believe that increasing momentum, alongside pressure from neighboring states like Tennessee and North Carolina—both of which have thriving legal sports betting industries—could push Georgia lawmakers to finally approve the measure. Should voters support the initiative, legal sports betting and casino gaming could launch in 2027, making Georgia a competitive player in the U.S. gaming industry.
