Georgia Sports Betting Push Loses Key Supporter

So much for the recent optimism that 2026 could be the year Georgia sports betting gets legalized.

In fairness, the push to green light sports betting in The Peach State was always going to be an uphill battle. But that fight just got a whole lot harder following the news Representative Marcus Wiedower will be resigning to pursue other business opportunities.

If you are wondering why his departure from the House of Representatives is such a big deal, it’s because he’s among the policymakers most aggressively advocating for sports betting in Georgia. Not only that, but Representative Wiedower has been the primary sponsor of multiple bills seeking to legalize sports gambling in The Peach State. As Charlotte Capewell of CDC Gaming writes:

“State Rep. Marcus Wiedower, a Republican who has served Georgia’s 121st district since 2019, had introduced two bills, House Bill 686 and House Resolution 450, intending to legalize sports gambling in the state. The bills focused solely on internet gambling, avoiding casinos, kiosks, and horse racing. House Resolution 450 wanted voters to have the final say through a referendum in 2026 on whether online sports gambling would be legalized in Georgia or not. Wiedower had been advocating for wagering law reform in Georgia, but his resignation leaves uncertainty over future leadership and whether the legislative push will continue.”

This news is particularly problematic under the circumstances. It would be different if Wiedower’s bills were mementos of past debates. It would even be another thing if one of his colleagues seemed poised to be the face of these initiatives in his stead. But that does not appear to be the case. And since these proposals are among the active baseline for Georgia sports betting discussions, it complicates what we can expect from the state legislature in 2026.

Wiedower’s Departure will Test the Interest in Georgia Sports Betting Legalization

Leading into next year’s meeting, The Peach State’s lawmakers seemed to agree on at least one thing: Any legalization of Georgia sports would require a constitutional amendment, rather than the implementation of a gaming compact.

This is important because it lays a clear blueprint for what must happen next. First, the House and Senate need to pass a Georgia sports betting bill with a two-thirds majority vote. From there, state voters must co-sign the proposal on an electoral ballot.

The most fervid optimists believe a sports betting bill could appear on the 2026 ballot. Or rather, we should say that they believed. It is tough to envision this optimism holding serve in the wake of Wiedower’s departure. While he is not the only person driving the train, the removal of a primary bill sponsor seldom bodes well for its outcome.

Of course, it helps that online sports betting in the United States has become more commonplace. The majority of states now offer it, which means Georgia is squandering more potential revenue than ever. That will resonate with a legislature looking for ways to juice educational program budgets and funding. Especially if and when data is presented that shows how many residents are crossing state lines to bet on sports in Tennessee, Florida and North Carolina.

Pressure will only mount on Georgia policymakers if Alabama and South Carolina make progress on sports betting legalization. Both of them okaying it would leave Georgia completely surrounded by states with sports wagering.

With All of That, Georgians Shouldn’t Get Their Hopes Up

The biggest issue for Georgia sports betting legalization now that Representative Wiedower is leaving his post could prove damning. The issue in question: arguments to green light sports wagering aren’t much stronger than they were last year.

All the Georgia sports betting talking points remain the same. The state is losing revenue. Regulated markets are safer. Money can be raised for state programs, including education. So many other states have done it. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

Meanwhile, opponents of Georgia sports betting have a fresh wave of concerns to highlight.

Problem gambling is more of a focus nationwide than ever. Places like Massachusetts are looking to rein in sportsbooks’ power at a time when the industry feels like it’s peaking.

Beyond that, though, one of the primary arguments in favor of Georgia sports betting suffered something of a major blow. It is believed that legal gambling markets will prevent residents from engaging in illicit betting. That is not necessarily the case, according to a study from the American Gaming Association:

“A new analysis from the American Gaming Association (AGA) finds that Americans wager a total $673.6 billion annually with illegal and unregulated gambling operators, diverting activity away from licensed operators and denying communities critical resources that fund infrastructure, education, and public safety. Driven by a sharp rise in illegal iGaming, expanding use of unregulated skill machines, and persistent illegal sports betting, the illegal market has grown 22 percent since AGA’s last report in 2022.”

Now, the above study also notes that illegal markets account for smaller shares of sports betting. But gambling markets—casinos and iGaming, mainly—will be looped into the same discussion. At the very least, this is not going to help Georgia sports betting efforts.

The Fate of Sports Betting in The Peach State will be Known Soon Enough

Whatever the outcome of Georgia sports betting talks in 2026, a resolution should be reached pretty quickly.

If someone else doesn’t take up Representative Wiedower’s mantle with House Resolution 450, expect the issue to be dead on arrival when the state legislature meets. Failing that, meetings will begin on January 12, 2026. Though they will run into April, we will almost assuredly know the fate of any sports betting push before the first few weeks wrap up.

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