As fans placed bets on Super Bowl LIX, Georgia's stance on sports betting led to a loss in potential tax revenue. FOX 5 Atlanta reports that with sports betting still illegal in Georgia, residents like Louise Gericke are forced to place bets through friends in legal states or travel across borders. GeoComply tracked over 300,000 gambling accounts from Georgia during the past NFL season, indicating a significant loss in state revenue.
While other states benefit from legalized sports gambling, Georgia misses out. Axios reports that legalized sports betting can bring significant tax revenue during the NFL and college football seasons and help local economies by investing in teams' success. Betting trends show a rise during football playoffs and a drop in the summer months, yet Georgia has not legalized sports betting despite multiple legislative efforts.
The potential tax revenue is substantial. Proponents of legalization estimate that Georgia could generate between $112-115 million annually. State Representative Marcus Wiedower told FOX 5 Atlanta that his proposed constitutional amendment would direct funds to the Georgia Lottery to benefit education and gambling addiction programs.
However, there is strong opposition. Groups like the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and Moms Against Gambling have expressed concerns about societal impacts. Mike Griffin from the Georgia Baptist Mission Board told FOX 5 Atlanta, "What we're going to see is it will exponentially make things worse. It's going to increase addiction, and we've already seen that addiction rates increase the potential of suicide rates." Despite these concerns, illegal betting remains a significant issue.
Rep. Wiedower’s bill, if passed, would put the amendment on the November ballot, and if approved by voters, legalization could take effect by 2027. Axios notes that with tax revenue benefits visible in other states, Georgia may eventually join the trend. States like Pennsylvania have seen increased betting and revenue, while Georgia has missed out on the opportunity.
