In a key move that could bring sports betting to Georgia, the State Senate recently passed SB 386, a bill that would set up betting through the Georgia Lottery Corporation. However, in what might further complicate its passage, the Senate has added a constitutional amendment to the bill. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the bill glided through with a 35 to 15 vote but now faces a potentially significant hurdle as it advances to the House.
The proposed legislation aims to create 16 sports betting licenses, one of which would be directly managed by the Georgia Lottery. The bill intends to raise funds for pre-K and the HOPE Scholarship by earmarking 20% of the proceeds. This plan has the backing of pro sports teams and certain lawmakers who believe it to directly benefit state programs. Senator Clint Dixon boldly stated in a WRDW interview, "There is no constitutional amendment required because all the funds are going to the lottery to fund pre-K and HOPE."
Despite the optimistism, there's pushback from opponents like Mike Griffin, who represents Georgia’s Southern Baptist churches. They argue the sports betting envisioned by the 1992 constitutional amendment allowed for the lottery, not for today's sports betting applications. "I don’t believe this end-around is going to work," Griffin declared in a statement shared by FOX 5 Atlanta.
Further contention comes from those concerned with the potential for a rise in gambling addiction. The Georgia Department of Public Health has estimated that around 380,000 Georgians already struggle with such issues. As quoted by WRDW, former Georgia Baptist pastor Mike Griffin warned, "This is state-sponsored predatory gambling. It would be like putting gas on a fire instead of water." Nonetheless, the bill includes protective measures, like the prohibition of credit card use for placing bets and the option for gamblers to self-exclude.
If enacted, pro sports teams including the Braves, Falcons, Hawks, Atlanta Dream, and Atlanta United, in addition to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, the PGA, and Augusta National, would collectively be granted eight licenses, further intertwining the interests of sports with the lottery. The remaining seven licenses would be unaffiliated with pro teams and come with a $100,000 application fee and an annual license fee of $1 million.
As the legislative process continues, the fate of SB 386 and the future of sports betting in Georgia hangs in the balance. The debate now shifts to the House, where supporters must rally a simple majority instead of the two-thirds required for a constitutional amendment. The conversation and controversy continue as Georgia grapples with this bet on its financial and moral future.
