Georgia Sports Betting Push Is Underway…Again

Another push to legalize Georgia sports betting is officially in the cards. But after so many attempts have failed in the past, the question everyone is asking continues to be: Will anything be different this time around?

True to the preexisting uncertainty that has surrounded sports betting in Georgia, the answer is not quite clear. Most tend to believe Georgia sports betting legalization will once again fizzle out in 2026. Yet, as of now, we only know one thing for sure: Supporters of expanding The Peach State’s gambling laws are going to try inciting change once again.

Latest Georgia Sports Betting Bill Plants Its Flag in a Major Debate

Representative Matt Hatchett has proposed House Bill 910 (HB 910), which seeks to legalize sports betting under the Georgia State Lottery umbrella. The proposal is a near-carbon copy from initiatives discussed in previous sessions. But it does shed clarity on one of the underlying issues facing sports betting in The Peach State.

For so long, many have wondered whether Georgia voters would get a chance to vote on sports betting. That is the route any bill must travel if it’s attempting to capitalize on the growing popularity of online sports betting in the United States. At one point, this is also the path many expected The Peach State to travel. After all, the vast majority of legal wagers placed in the United States are now processed through online sportsbooks.

HB 910, however, seems to be veering off that court. It does not require a constitutional amendment. That means it would not need to run through state voters. Georgia would instead be free to negotiate individual gaming compacts with those who would be eligible for sports betting licenses.

While HB 910 is assigned to the Higher Education Committee, its biggest hurdle will come in the Senate. The latter has derailed previous Georgia sports betting efforts over myriad concerns.

One of those concerns just so happens to be attempts to legalize gambling without a constitutional amendment. Plenty of Senate members believe voters should have a say on whether sports betting receives the green light.

But this is not the only sentiment driving opposition. If it were, a Georgia sports betting bill probably would have already been put in front of voters.

The Bar for Approving Constitutional Amendment is Higher

Veering away from the constitutional-amendment path seems to be more about avoiding the high bar for its approval. The vast majority of the House and Senate need to okay any bill that requires one.

Each time a Georgia sports betting bill has traveled this path, it has lacked the necessary support. So, any bounce-back on HB 910 would not just be about the approach it is taking. It would be more about the overall sentiment of Georgia sports betting among lawmakers.

While every chamber is looped into this, it predominantly refers to the Senate. Most of the previous Georgia sports betting proposals have originated in the House. Some of those initiatives have even received the necessary approval before getting sent to the Senate—where they invariably fizzle out.

Ergo, if Georgia is going to legalize sports betting, it comes down to Senate impressions, regardless of how it happens. Their collective stance on it is what needs to change. And even as we’ve seen new faces enter the mix during election years, their cumulative opposition to sports gambling has been a constant.

Expert Outlooks on Georgia Sports Betting Remain Bleak

Getting a hold on Georgia’s chances of sports betting legalization remains especially tough when considering the nature of the opposition. From what we can tell of past attempts, it does not seem like there is a singular issue that could be a unifying obstacle to overcome.

This contributes to what we’d call a pessimistic outlook on The Peach State’s sports betting odds. As Pat Evans wrote for iGaming:

“Because of various political issues, industry sources are mostly sour on Georgia’s potential this year. A House Study Committee on Gaming in the State of Georgia last year turned in a nine-page report with no recommendations. Key sports betting proponent Rep Marcus Wiedower, who chaired that committee, resigned in October 2025.”

With all of this said, the sports betting discussion does have at least one new wrinkle going for it. A Senate committee tasked with studying tourism looked at the report, and they gave an official recommendation that Georgia should legalize sports.

To what end this committee has influence over voting policymakers is debatable. But the fact they are tethered to the Senate in any way is a big deal. They represent the group of lawmakers who need to be convinced the most.

We shouldn’t rule out a change in stance, either. It has happened before. In fact, it has happened recently. After being against online sports betting legalization in Wisconsin for so long, policymakers appear on the fast-track to reversing course this year.

Granted, Georgia’s case is different. Wisconsin already has on-site sports betting for tribal operators. The Peach State has yet to agree on even that model. That by itself is proof of how far the gap is between supporters and opponents.

So, will this, in fact, be the year that changes? To echo previous sentiments, we won’t rule it out. But frankly, we’re not about to bet on it, either.

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