Now that the November ballot has come and gone, it looks like sports betting in Georgia could be getting a boost thanks to a Democratic candidate taking over as Governor. That's right, now that she's in office, Keisha Lance Bottoms is expected to give Georgia sports betting new hope in 2027, which is something that sports fans in the state have been waiting on for quite some time. In case you missed it, Bottoms previously voiced her support for sports betting and casino gaming to make its way to the Peach State.

However, nothing has moved forward there in recent years, as the opposition in Georgia for legalizing sports betting has vastly outweighed the support. With that in mind, it's quite head-turning that Bottoms is now going to be in the Governor's seat, especially since she has spoken about how crucial sports betting tax revenue could be to help out resources across the state, and not just in a major city like Atlanta. Could this lead to some good news coming in as early as next year?

"I want to put casino gambling on the ballot," Bottoms told her supporters at a public event this past spring. "It's estimated that roughly $300 million plus would come in additionally each year (in revenue). Education would be a top priority. Some people have said that they don't want gambling in the state, but you'll have the opportunity to go out and vote to make your voice heard. There's people like my mother who drive to other states to gamble."

While Bottoms' hopes of getting a gaming bill on the 2026 ballot didn't come in, who's to say that's not going to change at this point next year. Now that she's in office and ready to make an impact, it's clear that she's keeping the high revenue potential in mind for a push sooner rather than later. Only time will tell if Bottoms is successful in getting more people on her side of this gambling debate, but again, her being in office isn't going to hurt things at all.

Strong opposition still remains to legalize sports betting in Georgia

It goes without saying, but the main issue facing Bottoms is the fact that strong opposition still remains to legalize sports betting in Georgia. Earlier this year, a sports betting bill made its way to the state House, but 120 votes were needed for things to move on to the next stage. However, that effort fell way short, with only 63 votes coming in via public records. Lawmakers weren't impressed with the House Resolution 450 bill, marking yet another setback to get things over the line.

It's common knowledge in Georgia that officials are in no rush to get sports betting legalized, while the success that other states nearby are having isn't having much of a say overall. In recent months, both Tennessee and North Carolina have recorded hundreds of millions worth of a sports betting handle, which of course has led to strong revenue numbers as well. Per the North Carolina State Lottery Commission, the handle alone in September was roughly $718 million. Whoa.

This is exactly the kind of success that Bottoms referenced in terms of sports betting and casino gambling being able to bring in an estimated $300 million or so for the state. While that number sounds promising on the surface, nothing is going to matter if the right kind of sports betting bill doesn't come in that makes both Democrats and Republicans happy. The last thing those in favor of sports betting want to see another bill to come in and make its way to the House, only for it to get voted down again.

Prediction markets continue to operate in Georgia for people's sports betting needs

While the uncertainty on the future remains in Georgia, prediction markets continue to operate in Georgia for people's sports betting needs. This is something Bottoms has voiced his displeasure about, and she's certainly not alone there. However, the Federal laws currently state that these markets, including Kalshi and PolyMarket, are good to go in Georgia.

This is important at this time of the year, especially with NFL betting being so popular across the board in the United States. The Atlanta Falcons are the home team for Georgians, and there's excitement around the young talent on the roster. Still, if people want to place sports wagers on the Falcons, they must rely on those prediction markets. Having regulated, legal sports betting in Georgia would of course change that, but we won't find out until 2027 at the earliest if the wheels can get in motion there or not.