Georgia is one of the few states that have not yet legalized sports betting, making it something of an outcast amid gambling's acceleration in the United States.
The Peach State has the eighth-largest population of all states and has the opportunity to enjoy a successful gaming market. However, its traditional southern heritage has proved to be a significant roadblock for pro-gaming legislators, who have been outnumbered at nearly every turn.
Georgia sports betting: Where things stand
Georgia is one of the country's most anti-gambling states. The only permissible forms are the state-run lottery, bingo games, and raffles.
That doesn’t mean that legislators haven’t tried. A series of attempts have been made to flip the state’s position, but to no avail.
The most recent sign of progress came earlier this year when a state Senate committee focused on increasing in-state tourism endorsed legalizing online sports betting. However, the suggestion didn’t appear to be full-throated, and the committee never seriously considered exploring it.
A recent report on the committee’s discussions did not include any real findings or actionable recommendations.
The track record of suggested bills failing to advance out of their committees and conversations never leading to legislation does not inspire much confidence that 2026 will be the year that sportsbooks are welcomed into Georgia.
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What's next?
As mentioned, the immediate outlook for Georgia sports betting is bleak.
A topic to keep an eye on, however, is prediction markets. The increasingly popular destinations offer sports event contracts without requiring state licensing, meaning platforms could effectively service customers in Georgia with sports contracts similar to sports betting odds.
These platforms’ rights to operate without state licensing have inspired many state gaming regulators to issue cease-and-desist orders.
These orders have been partially successful but have been overruled or outright ignored in some cases. Georgia, like all other states, faces a tricky road. Having prediction platforms in the state could incentivize lawmakers to legalize sports betting to capitalize on the gaming market by generating tax money from sportsbooks.
Notes and quotes
“(Legalizing sports betting is) not to expand or encourage but to regulate and put guardrails on things that are already happening in this state prevalently.” - State Rep. Marcus Wiedower (R).
“I think the population and demography and geography and agricultural background would make this a huge state for horse racing and would be a huge benefit for your economy.” - Damon Thayer (R), a former Kentucky senator.
“(Legalizing sports betting) is a way to get the core fan engaged longer on our sport. They engage more with our content and follow the tournaments closely.” - Scott Warfield, head of the PGA Tour’s gaming division.
Year in review
Dec. 3, 2025: A state Senate committee recommended legalizing mobile sports betting.
Oct. 29, 2025: State Rep. Marcus Wiedower (R), a vocal proponent of legal sports betting, resigned.
Aug. 26, 2025: The PGA Tour encouraged Georgia, home of Augusta National, to legalize sports betting.
March 7, 2025: A pair of bills to legalize sports betting died in the state General Assembly.
Feb. 5, 2025: A Senate resolution called for the topic of sports betting legalization to be added to the 2026 ballot.
